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Wednesday, December 26, 2018

DENNIS PATRICK: NEW YEARS EVE 2018

“Ring out the old, ring in the new” even today still rings true. The annual cycle is complete and a new cycle begins.

 

Among one of our favorite poems is one by Alfred Lord Tennyson, “Ring Out, Wild Bells.” It is part of a larger work, “In Memoriam A.H.H.,” written in tribute to his dear friend and brother-in-law Arthur Henry Hallam upon his early, untimely death.

 

This poem superbly marks the passing of the old year. Tennyson captures the nostalgic passing of the year together with hope for the future. He expresses everything that needs to be said. His words are worth sharing to help us bid a hearty farewell to 2018 and hale the dawning of 2019.

 

Ponder Tennyson’s words as we mark a new dawning.

 

            Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

            The flying cloud, the frosty light;

            The year is dying in the night;

            Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

 

            Ring out the old, ring in the new;

            Ring, happy bells, across the snow;

            The year is going, let him go;

            Ring out the false, ring in the true.

 

            Ring out the grief that saps the mind;

            For those that here we see no more;

            Ring out the feud of rich and poor;

            Ring in redress to all mankind.

 

            Ring out a slowly dying cause,

            And ancient forms of party strife;

            Ring in the nobler modes of life,

            With sweeter manners, purer laws.

 

            Ring out the false pride in place and blood,

            The civic slander and the spite;

            Ring in the love of truth and right,

            Ring in the common love of good.

 

            Ring out old shapes of foul disease,

            Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;

            Ring out the thousand wars of old,

            Ring in the thousand years of peace.

 

            Ring in the valiant man and free,

            The larger heart, the kindlier hand;

            Ring out the darkness of the land;

            Ring in the Christ that is to be.

 

     With all the feeling and sentiment this poem conveys, we bid adieu to 2018 with mixed emotions -- both joy and happiness. We only pass this way once. Here’s our chance to begin anew. Make the New Year count!

            Happy New Year!

 

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

 

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