“I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.” ~ Charles Dickens
Good Sunday morning, dear friends. I hope this finds you well and enjoying the days and nights of this beautiful month.
Today, I want to share a poem by one of my favorite poets, Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809~1892). Personally, I feel it is most appropriate for the year we have endured.
Written in 1850, the poem seems like a prayer for humanity to strive for a kindlier world. I hope you will find Tennyson’s words meaningful and they will give you thoughts to contemplate. To me, as we approach a new year, I find them to be most worthy of thought. I hope will to you also. 
“Ring Out, Wild Bells” ~ by, Alfred, Lord Tennyson
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.”
“Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. . .” ~ Joan Winmill Brown
Amour,
Sandra
Images: via tumblr
Wow, those words are timeless and so poignant! Happy Third Sunday of Advent, Sandra. Rejoice!
They truly are, Rita. Wishing you a beautiful day and week ahead. Rejoice!
The poem,”Ring Out, Wild Bells” is most worthy of thought. May you and your family be filled with joy and good health.
Wishing you beautiful December days, they are passing so quickly. Love and joy to you and your family, Bonnie.
This is the perfect poem to end this year with. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you, Penny. I have loved it for years. Have a lovely day and week ahead.
Good morning, and happy Sunday, Sandra! The poem you shared definitely gives us something to reflect on. I know way too many people who have suffered this year with loss, and my heart breaks for them. I never want to wish my life away, but I’m so ready for this year to be behind us. I know we must continue to count our blessings everyday, and keep faith and hope in our hearts. May you have a most blessed Christmas season, sweet friend!
Good morning, Shannon. Your words speak for all of us and give the most important direction as well. Wishing you beautiful December days.
Thank you for sharing Tenneyson’s beautiful poem, timeless and poignant as Rita said. I wish you and Michael good health and joy during this most Holy Season. Blessings on this Sunday, my friend!
Thank you, Pam. And, the very same to you and your beautiful family. ❤❤
This poem fits our time for sure. Tennyson’s message touches so many sore spots. His words are timeless and it’s good to hear them once again. Wishing you grace and joy in the week ahead, Sandra.
Thank you, Brenda. I do love this poem and you are certainly correct – “it touches so many sore spots.”
Enjoy your day and the week ahead. December is passing so quickly. Blessings, dear friend.
Sandra, I don’t believe you could have posted a more poignant and appropriate poem for 2020 and our future times. I keep thinking, and hoping, that the heartache of these past 10+ months will awaken in us all the call to be more understanding, giving, and loving. Thank you for always sharing such thought provoking posts and beautiful pictures. I so look forward to meeting w/ you every Sunday, dear friend. Hugs!
Dear Bobbi, good morning, sweet friend. Thank you so much for your kind words and I so agree with them. I do believe this ugly virus has taught us many things and I think we will begin to see a ray of light in our world.
I am happy you enjoy meeting with me every Sunday, but you couldn’t possibly be as happy as I am to see your always loving and inspirational words. Blessings to you, dear one. Enjoy these days they are moving way too quickly.
Beautiful poem! I hope you had a lovely Sunday!Hugs!
Good morning, Maristella. Thank you and yes, I did have a lovely Sunday – hope you did also.
Have a wonderful week, my friend.
This is a lovely poem. I’ve never read it before but boy, do they hit home these days. I’m trying to think what movie it is when the bells start and the lead character shouts “Ring Out, wild bells!” (He’s a Brit and now I’m going to be trying to think of that all day!). I never realized it came from a poem! Thanks for this, Sandra!
Jeanie, I love this poem also. I actually recited part of it when I was in the seventh grade. Perhaps, that is where I developed my affection for Tennyson’s words. I wish I could help you with the name of the movie, but that is a total blank for me.
Hope you are enjoying these days, I love seeing your decorating.