~ The Old Bells are Still Ringing ~

[marie]

http://www.pbase.com/image/19598007/original.jpg

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 manner, 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
from : In Memoriam A.H.H.






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L'ENFANT GLACÉ

When Baby's cries grew hard to bear
I popped him in the Frigidaire.
I never would have done so if
I'd known that he'd be frozen stiff.
My wife said 'George. I'm so unhappé !
Our darling's now completely frappé !

:) :) :)

Harry Graham
1874- 1936
http://www.pbase.com/image/9765745/original.jpg



Very very best wishes to you all
~ for every day of every year ~

:)
marie

[stoneylonesome]

Beautiful poetry befitting beautiful photos, and a very Happy New Year to you too Marie. You'll be there first so let me know how 2004 is going to be :D :D

[marie]

thank you Sandy.
I nearly did'nt post it as it may be too serious :D :D :D
you know......... 'fun laughter gaiety ' time and all that (???) ???

I have'nt a clue how yours and Rocky's 2004 will be ,
hopefully it will be a very happy one

If you both wake up in the morning (tomorrow) count yourselves lucky :D :D
wishing the very best of everything (which matters) to you and yours

:)

marie

[Leighow]

MARIE

Liked the 1st poem!

The black - haied infant looks just like you!

You evening is almost over -- so have a great year.

HOWIE

[marie]

Many thanks Howie

glad its (well) into the new year now :D

best wishes
marie

[marie]

http://www.pbase.com/image/24720751/original.jpg



The Bluebell


The bluebell is the sweetest flower
That waves in summer air;
Its blossoms have the mightiest power
To soothe my spirit's care

There is a spell in purple heath
Too wildly , sadly dear;
The violet has a fragrance breath,
But fragrance will not cheer.

The trees are bare, the sun is cold,
And seldom, seldom seen;
The heavens have lost their zone of gold,
And earth her robe of green.

And ice upon the glancing stream
Has cast its sombre shade;
And distant hills and valleys seem
In frozen mist arrayed.

The bluebell cannot charm me now,
The heath has lost its bloom;
The violets in the glen below,
They yield no sweet perfume.

But, though I mourn the sweet Bluebell,
'Tis better far away;
I know how fast my tears would swell,
To see it smile today.

For, oh ! when chill the sunbeams fall
Adown that dreary sky,
And gild yon dank and darkened wall
With transient brilliancy;

How do I weep, how do I pine
For the time of flowers to come,
And turn me from that fading shine,
To mourn the fields of home !


Emily Jane Bronté

[stoneylonesome]

Fits perfect; verse and photo, Ah the pressure is on again, what a way to start the New Year :D :D :D

I'll have to ponder this over some Bailey's Irish Creame :D :D In my coffee of course.