Ring out wild bells to the wild sky: In Memoriam 106

St Sylvester, Tuesday 30th December, 2024

In Memoriam 106, by 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 between 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.

And let the fuller minstrel in.

 

Ring out false pride in place and blood,

   The civic slander and the pride;

   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 and free,

   The larger heart, the kindlier hand;

   Ring out the darkness of the land,

Ring in the Christ who is yet to be.