Ring Out!

In Memoriam
Alfred Lord Tennyson

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.