.

And by a prudent flight and cunning save A life which valour could not, from the grave. A better buckler I can soon regain, But who can get another life again? Archilochus

Monday, December 24, 2018

Ring Out, Wild Bells!

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.
- Alfred Lord Tennyson (1850)

8 comments:

Franco Aragosta said...

A SPECIAL NEW-MINTED CHRISTMAS OFFERING FROM SANTA'S OUTSTRETCHED CLAWS:

Merry Christmas one and all today.
Ululate with joy, sweet anthems sing.
Elevate your spirits. Praise the King
Lying newborn on His bed of hay.
Lambs lie down with lions at His birth
Eastern Magi come to bring Him gifts
Rustic, humble scene the spirit lifts
In awe as angels tell us of His worth
Splendidly transcending earthly cares
Altruism fair has come to reign
Transforming duty’s dulness into pleasure.
Understanding grain excels the tares
Realistic vision saves us pain
Doubtless yielding comfort beyond measure

~ Santa Claws

Joe Conservative said...

:) Thanks, Franco! A very apt acrostic for the shutdown.

Franco Aragosta said...

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play;
In music sweet the tones repeat,
“There’s peace on earth, good will to men.”

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th’ unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor does He sleep,
For Christ is here; His Spirit near
Brings peace on earth, good will to men.”

When men repent and turn from sin
The Prince of Peace then enters in,
And grace imparts within their hearts
His peace on earth, good will to men.


O souls amid earth’s busy strife,
The Word of God is light and life;
Oh, hear His voice, make Him your choice,
Hail peace on earth, good will to men.

Then happy, singing on your way,
Your world will change from night to day;
Your heart will feel the message real,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.


~ entry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

Franco Aragosta said...

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) wrote a terrifyingly evocative opus callled THE BELLS, which may well be the greatest use of ASSONANCE in the language..

I tried to share it here, and carefully prepared the text so it would format properly in this damnable Blogger medium, but Blogger wouldn't accept it. "Too Long," apparently, so I gave up.

Sorry. If you want to review the piece, just google The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe, and several "editions" will pop right up

But I hate to use links, and hate even mre to use references, because the likelihood that anyone would bother to look them up is slim to none. The direct approach is infinitely superior.

Anyway, that is my first Post-Christmas Confession.

The Bells should be read aloud by somone who knows how to project the meaning and the music with the appopriately intense vocal expression the piece demands.

Perhaps, someday, "Blogger" will make it possible to submit pieces read aloud –– and illustrations –– directly.

'Twould be a great help in making these communications more interesting, more meaningful, –– and possibly even memorable.

Oh well, ON to EPIPHANY!

Christmas isn't over till Twelfth Night as far as I'm concerned.

Franco Aragosta said...

Ding Dong Merrily on High

Ding Dong! merrily on high
In heav'n the bells are ringing
Ding, dong! verily the sky
Is riv'n1 with angel singing
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis

E'en so here below, below
Let steeple bells be swungen
And ee-yo, ee-yo, ee-yo
By priest and people sungen
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis

Pray ye dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers
May ye beautifully rhyme
Your evetime song, ye singers
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis.


~ George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848-1934)

Franco Aragosta said...

The Carol pf the Bells

Hark! how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say
"Throw cares away.
"Christmas is here
"Bringing good cheer
"To young and old
Meek and the bold."

Ding, dong, ding, dong
That is their song
With joyful ring
All caroling
One seems to hear
Words of good cheer
From ev'rywhere
Filling the air
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas!
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas!

Gaily they ring
While people sing
Songs of good cheer
Christmas is here
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas!
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas!

On without end
Their joyful sound
Filling the air
Cov'ring the ground
DING DONG
___ DING DONG
______ DING!


~ Ukrainian Carol

Joe Conservative said...

The Day AFTER Christmas...:P

Franco Aragosta said...

UGH!