Ringing In the American Revolution!

Ring Out, Wild Bells
Lord Alfred Tennyson

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 darkenss of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Monday was Patriot's Day here in the US. A day to honour every soldier who ever fought for the country, starting with the very first during the Revolution. Now, Lexington, where my mamu is based, is the place that the famous Paul Revere came riding into to inform the Americans that the Brits were attacking. So, of course, a special re-enactment was arranged. Which meant that four of us, Maya, Rohan, mami, and I went into the town centre at 5.30 in the morning to hear the bells ring in the American Revolution. We drove in, and ran up to the belfry only to have the attendants (dressed in authentic old-time gear) ask if Rohan and Maya wanted to ring the bell! Of course, they did!
Flushed with success, we then ran back to the kerb around the town green to watch the Brits march down main street while the blue coats waited. And then there was battle! The muskets were loud, the clothes were great, and the fighting was spirited! My height prevented me from seeing too much, but what I saw was fun!
We went home and returned in the afternoon to watch the parade that marched through town. Also great, good fun :) Baton twirling cheerleaders, smart firefighters, war veterans, everyone was there! I barely made it home to crash!