Via Basel: Ring Out, Wild Bells


“Ring out, wild bells” / by Alfred Tennyson ; with ill. from designs by Miss L.B. Humphrey ; engraved under the supervision of George T. Andrew. English Poetry, 19th century. PR5572 .R7

As we “let go”of this year and “accept” the new one, there is nothing I can write that is remotely as eloquent and precise as Lord Alfred Tennyson’s poem “Ring Out, Wild Bells.” Published in 1850 in a different time and place, it is nonetheless both timeless and timely.

On behalf of the EIL family be well and enjoy.

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.

 

Basel Al-Aswad, father of EIL founder Christopher Al-Aswad, is a yogi trapped in an Orthopedic Surgeon’s body. His loves in life include reading, hiking, enjoying nature, meditation, and spending time with his large Iraqi family, and now, retired, he will have more time for that. And for the next adventure.

“Ring Out, Wild Bells” at Poets.org

“Ring Out, Wild Bells” at Wikipedia

Via Basel Holiday Greeting via podcast

Via Basel: The Gift

Via Basel: The Gift, Part 2

 

 




Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.