A post for New Years Eve: Ring the Bells

 For the 7th Day of Christmas: New Year's Eve:

I always post this poem on this day... perhaps it’s needed this year more than ever...

In Memoriam, [Ring out, wild bells]

Alfred Lord Tennyson, 1809 - 1892

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 want, the care, the sin,    

The faithless coldness of the times;    

Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes 

But ring the fuller minstrel in. 

Ring out 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.

Blessings of the Bells of Peace to you and yours for the New Year +