This is an illustration created to accompany the following poem to herald 2017. May it be a year where truth reigns at last. I wish a Happy New Year to all! R :)


Ring, mournful bell, ring out the year.
Since last you rang, twelve months have flown
Away with souls, known and unknown.
Ring loud although they do not hear.

Ring out, wild bell, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bell, and let it die.

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 and install
In power, large hearts and kindlier hands.
Ring out the darkness of our lands,
Ring in the light that shines on all