In Memoriam – “Ring out, wild bells”
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 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.
What the Poem Says
The poem invites us to let go of what no longer serves us and to welcome new possibilities. Each stanza begins with the command “Ring out”, asking the bells to announce the end of an old idea or feeling, and ends with a hopeful invitation to “ring in” something better.
The first two stanzas focus on time itself: the passing year is described as dying, while the new year promises renewal. The next three stanzas move from personal grief to social injustice, urging the bells to silence poverty, disease, and war. In the final stanza the poet looks beyond earthly concerns, calling for a spiritual awakening symbolised by “the Christ that is to be.”
How the Poem Works – Literary Devices in Action
- repetition of “Ring out / Ring in” creates a musical rhythm and reinforces the theme of change.
- alliteration (e.g., flying cloud, frosty light) adds sonic texture that mirrors the gentle tolling of bells.
- contrast (antithesis) – “false” versus “true,” “old” versus “new”—helps readers see what is being replaced.
- personification gives life to abstract concepts: The year is dying, the bells call for change.
- symbolism – the bells represent time, hope, and collective memory; ringing them signals a communal act of letting go.
- meter and rhyme (mostly ABAB quatrains) give the poem a steady, hymn‑like cadence that feels both solemn and hopeful.
Why It Matters to You
When you read this poem, notice how each “ring” is an invitation. Think about what in your own life might need to be let go—old habits, grudges, or fears—and imagine a new sound that could replace them: kindness, curiosity, or courage.
Key Takeaway
The poem reminds us that change begins with a single act of letting go. By ringing out the past, we create space for something better to enter our lives.