Hello 2011!
Ring Out the Old, Ring in the New
~Alfred Tennyson 1850
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, 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 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 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 a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife,
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweet manners, purer laws.
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.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Haven’t read that poem in a while! Thank you so much – truly enjoyed reading it. Blessings abundant to you in 2011!
2011 just seems so crazy….I remember the movie 2001 when I was little and that year seemed SO FAR OFF….and here we are 10 years after that…GLORY.
What a great poem – I’d truly never read it before. Let’s ring in 2011 loud enough for the world to hear across every border!
I love this…he wrote the things on my heart…what a wonderful way express oneself. Hope you have a wonderful year with your weddings and who knows what will be in our next chapter.
What a great post!
Happy New 2011 . . . who ever thought we would live to be so old! and live in the year 2 0 1 1 ~ ???
I love that Martin Luther quote along with Tennyson.
Why isn’t this set to music? But maybe it is?
Such rich words and meaning in your poem… deep thoughts to ponder !
a Blessed New Year to you, Ellen !! with hugs…..
Ellen, I enjoyed reading this wonderful poem again, and what a pretty vintage new year’s greeting picture. Wishing you a wonderful 2011! laurie
Happy New Year to you too!