Thursday, December 24, 2009

A very special PSF.

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.

Without coming over all Myf Warhurst*, seasons beatings to you all comrades.

See you on the other side.

* Whom I hate and want to die.

** I put that bit in to annoy Pers and Melba.

25 comments:

Mad Cat Lady said...

Merry Christmas (Mfy is cute)

Mad Cat Lady said...

oopsy - Myf - whatever

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

My cat is cute, MCL.

Doesn't mean she deserves a spot on television/radio/print media.

RandomGit said...

I thought you put that in there because you accidentally stepped in its philosophical equivalent.

Merry XXXmas to you all as well. Its all about insular family gifting, indulgence, a massive productive commercial orgy and maybe a thought or two and the pennies along with them for those less fortunate, to pretend you give a shit.

And, not coincidentallty, about religion.

Melba said...

Thanks Ramon for the poem. Glad you don't hate me and want me to die.

A question. How could you have left that bit out? The Christ bit? But thanks for the asterisk anyway.

Man I'm glad it's a little cooler.

Unknown said...

Happy Christmas everyone. Hope you all get the best bit of the turkey (or whatever).

Perseus said...

Merry Christmas all.
Thank you for indulging me.
Stay safe.
Eat well.
Say 'cunt' a lot.

Melba said...

My Christmas Eve tonight Perseus will see me in headphones going through your top 10. I will listen to each and every one all the way through, and then I will make a comment.

For this will be my gift to you.

homesick said...

Say 'cunt' a lot.

I just ran out of paper whilst wrapping two boogie boards for the kiddies..... cunt was repeatedly mumbled down in the store room.

Regardless of which way you swing on the whole religious thingy, I sincerely hope you all spend Christmas Day eating and drinking way too much with those you love the most.

WitchOne said...

I have CRAYFISH!!!! I haven't had crays in years so I am pretty damned happy this Christmas!

WitchOne said...

Oh Merry Christmas youse bastards! Love youse all.

Melba said...

It's like a wasteland over here. Only my comments filling the thing to the left.

Did a bomb go off and I'm the only survivor?

Did you all move to another, secret site and I'm the only one not invited?

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

We're all watching the cricket, comrade.

Anonymous said...

I'm here, for whatever that's worth.

Um...

So, how was your Christmas, Melba?

Melba said...

Hi Alex. It was ok nothing spesh. How was yours?

Anonymous said...

Not too bad, actually. I visited some relatives I haven't seen in 20yrs and spent some time with my aunt who's in a home with dementia. She told me all about her numerous lovers and bastard offspring and the plots to kill her and take her money. I guess these homes are more exciting than they appear from the outside.

I also got to spend some time with my non-crazy aunts and heard some yarns about the old west and the wars (I love that kinda stuff) as well as what's wrong with young people these days - like how women have lost all their pride as ladies because they just want to be men with vaginas.

I also found out that one of my cousins (not immediate) used to date Kruddy in high-school.

Unknown said...

I'm here.

I spent my Christmas being harangued & assaulted by most of the five year olds in my extended family plus most of the family dogs in my extended family.

And there was not nearly enough sparkling wine to make any of it ok.

Sigh. I'm exhausted. I think I need to start a support group or something. Or just find more to drink.

Melba said...

Alex, your Chrissy Day sounds good. I like listening to old folk and their stories too.

EMS, you should have made sure there were bottles and bottles of the stuff.

Anonymous said...

EMS, maybe you really should be seriously considering the home-made booze thing.

Melba said...

I agree Alex.

LIMONCELLO!

Anonymous said...

How many days is it now, Melba?

Melba said...

It's Day 55. Was meant to be 40 but the lemon peels were not snapping as expected. Maybe because I've used vodka instead of the pure alcohol.

Once I get a moment I will proceed with the recipe regardless. And next time I will source the pure stuff, somehow. And compare.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

I trust you're not casting nasturtiums on my lemons, Melba.

Melba said...

The missing ingredient, Ramon. Nasturtiums.

No, the lemons were ace. It might be the vodka... My (Italian) mother-in-law stuck her nose in the container and said "No, not ready yet!"

So I'll keep it going a little longer.

How are the lemon stocks?

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

Lemons are coming along nicely, aided by The Boy and myself.