Christmas

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 for 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 andblood, The civic slander and the spite: Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love ofgood..... 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.