Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE NEW YEAR, by MARGARET ELIZABETH MUNSON SANGSTER



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE NEW YEAR, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The clock struck twelve in the tall church tower
Last Line: Which the wise are swift to see.
Alternate Author Name(s): Van Deth, Gerrit, Mrs.
Subject(s): Greetings; Holidays; New Year


THE clock struck twelve in the tall church tower,
And the old year slipped away,
To be lost in the crowd of phantom years
In the House of Dreams that stay
All wrapped in their cloaks of gray.

Then swift and sweet o'er the door's worn sill
Came the youngest child of Time,
With a gay little bow and a merry laugh,
And a voice like bells achime,
Challenging frost and rime.

He found there was plenty for him to do,
The strong and the weak were here,
And both held out their hands to him
And gave him greetings dear.
The beautiful young new year.

"You must bring us better days," they said,
"The old year was a cheat."
Which I think was mean when the year was dead;
Such fate do dead years meet,
To be spurned by scornful feet!

"I bring you the best a year can bring,"
The new-comer stoutly spake,
"The chance of work, the gift of trust,
And the bread of love to break,
If but my gifts you'll take!"

The noblest thing a year can lay
In the lap of you or me,
The brave new year has brought this day—
It is Opportunity,
Which the wise are swift to see.





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