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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>The Death of the Old Year<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Alfred, Lord Tennyson <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Full knee-deep lies the winter snow, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And the winter winds are wearily sighing: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Toll ye the church bell sad and slow, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And tread softly and speak low, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For the old year lies a-dying. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Old year you must not die; <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> You came to us so readily, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> You lived with us so steadily, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Old year, you shall not die. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>He lieth still: he doth not move: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>He will not see the dawn of day. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>He hath no other life above. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>He gave me a friend and a true truelove <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And the New-year will take ’em away. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Old year you must not go; <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> So long you have been with us, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Such joy as you have seen with us, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Old year, you shall not go. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>He froth’d his bumpers to the brim; <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A jollier year we shall not see. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>But tho’ his eyes are waxing dim, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And tho’ his foes speak ill of him, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>He was a friend to me. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Old year, you shall not die; <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We did so laugh and cry with you, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I’ve half a mind to die with you, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Old year, if you must die. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>He was full of joke and jest, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>But all his merry quips are o’er. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To see him die across the waste <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>His son and heir doth ride post-haste, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>But he’ll be dead before. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Every one for his own. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The night is starry and cold, my friend, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> And the New-year blithe and bold, my friend, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Comes up to take his own. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>How hard he breathes! over the snow <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I heard just now the crowing cock. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The shadows flicker to and fro: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The cricket chirps: the light burns low: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>’Tis nearly twelve o’clock. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Shake hands, before you die. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Old year, we’ll dearly rue for you: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> What is it we can do for you? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Speak out before you die. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>His face is growing sharp and thin. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Alack! our friend is gone, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Close up his eyes: tie up his chin: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Step from the corpse, and let him in <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>That standeth there alone, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> And waiteth at the door. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> There’s a new foot on the floor, my friend, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> And a new face at the door, my friend, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> A new face at the door. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on December 31, 2022, by the Academy of American Poets.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Ann M. Chiappetta, M.S.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Making Meaningful ConnectionsThrough Media <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>914.393.6605 USA<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:Anniecms64@gmail.com">Anniecms64@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All things Annie: <a href="http://www.annchiappetta.com">www.annchiappetta.com</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>