GOOD-BY, Old Year! I can but say, Sadly I see thee passing away; Passing away with the hopes and fears, The bliss and pain, the smiles and tears, That come to us all in all the years. Good-by, Old Year! Little indeed Thy friendly voice we were wont to heed, Telling us, warning us every day: -- "Transient mortals! work and pray; You, like me, are passing away!" Good-by, Old Year! Whatever may be The sins and stains thou hast chanced to see, Consider, O Year! to purge the same, And wash away the sin and shame, Whilst thou wert passing, CHRISTMAS came! Good-by, Old Year! With words of grace Leave us to him who takes thy place; And say, Old Year, unto the New, "Kindly, carefully, carry them through, For much, I ween, they have yet to do!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...QUI S'EXCUSE S'ACCUSE by MARIANNE MOORE OF JACOPO DEL SELLAIO by EZRA POUND EROS by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES THE WASHERS OF THE SHROUD; OCTOBER, 1861 by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL THE LAIRD O' COCKPEN by CAROLINA OLIPHANT NAIRNE |