Monday, January 2, 2012

Ring Out, Wild Bells, to the Wild Sky


                                                       Sunset, 2011

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 thy 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

Signs of Life:

In the profoundest and happiest spirit of the larger heart and kindlier hand, Playing for Change promotes music around the world – wild bells, harmonica, guitar, sitar, drums, tambourine and violin. Singing and dancing, people of all nations ring in redress to all mankind. If you would like to get your New Year off to a rousing and heart-centered start, take a few minutes to listen to these joyous men and women jamming internationally. They move me to tears of joy – see if they have the same effect on you! 


If they do, you might consider deeper involvement with this inspired and inspiring organization, at:  http://playingforchangeday.org/

And friends – ROCK ON!
                                                           Dawn, 2012

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