The New Year

From “In Memoriam,” CV. 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.