Tennyson's New Year's Eve juxtaposed to our 2011

Australian Scott Jones kisses Canadian girlfriend Alex Thomas after she was knocked to the ground by a police officer's riot shield in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Getty Images/Rich/Lam)

I chose this photograph for this poem to represent so much of what is going on in the world right now and I cannot say as much as a photograph can..... so may 2012 be more peaceful and head in a more loving direction for all....

In Memoriam

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.

~by Lord Alfred Tennyson