 Old and New Year Ditties by Christina Rosetti Read for LibreVox.org by Caitlyn Cooper December 29, 2007, in Covington, Louisiana Old and New Year Ditties 1. New Year met me somewhat sad. Old Year leaves me tired. Stripped of favorite things I had, balked of much desired. Yet father on my road to-day, God willing, Father on my way. New Year coming on apace, what have you to give me? Bring you scathe, or bring you grace, face me with an honest face. You shall not deceive me, be it good or ill, be it what you will. It needs shall help me on my road, my rugged way to heaven, please, God. 2. Watch with me, men, women, and children, dear, To whom I love, for whom I hope and fear. Watch with me this last vigil of the year. Some hug their business, some their pleasure scheme, Some seize the vacant hour to sleep or dream, Heart locked in heart, some kneel and watch apart. Watch with me, blessed spirits, who delight, All through the holy night to walk in white, Or take your ease after a long-drawn fight. I know not if they watch with me. I know they count this eve of resurrection slow, And cry how long, with urgent utterance strong. Watch with me, Jesus, in my loneliness. Though others say me nay, yet say thou yes. Though others pass me by, stop thou to bless. Yea, thou dost stop with me this vigil night, To night of pain, to-morrow of delight. I love in thine, thou, Lord, my God, art mine. 3. Passing away, save the world, passing away, Chances, beauty, and youth sapped day by day, Thy life never continueeth in one's day. Is the eye wax and dim? Is the dark care changing to gray, That hath one neither laurel nor bay? I shall clothe myself in spring and bud in may. Thou, root-stricken, shall not rebuild thy decay. On my bosom for I, then I answered yea. Passing away, save my soul, passing away, With its burden of fear, and hope, of labor, and play, Harken what the past doth witness and say! Rust in thy gold, a moth is in thine array, A kanker is in thy bud, thy leaf must decay. Admin night at Cock Crow, at morning, one certain day, Low the bridegroom shall come, and shall not delay. Watch thou and pray, then I answered yea. Passing away, save my God, passing away, Winter passeth after the long delay, New grapes on the vine, new figs on the tender spray, Turtle calleth turtle in heaven's man. Though I tarry, wait for me, trust me, watch and pray. A rise come away, night is past, and low it is day. My love, my sister, my spouse, thou shalt hear me say, Then I answered yea. End of poem, this recording is in the public domain. Old and New Year Diddies by Christina Rosetti Read for LibriVox.org by Clarica New Year met me somewhat sad, old year leaves me tired, Strip the favorite things I had, balked of much desired, Yet farther on my road today, God willing, farther on my way. New Year, coming on apace, what have you to give me? Bring you scathe or bring you grace, Face me with an honest face, you shall not deceive me. Be it good or ill, or be it what you will. It needs shall help me on my road, My rugged way to heaven, please God. Watch with me men, women, and children, dear, You whom I love, for whom I hope and fear. Watch with me this last vigil of the year. Some hug their business, some their pleasure scheme. Some seize the vacant hour to sleep or dream. Heart locked in heart, some kneel and watch apart. Watch with me, blessed spirits, Who delight all through the holy night to walk in white, Or take your ease after the long-drawn fight. I know not if they watch with me, I know they count this eve of resurrection slow, And cry how long with urgent utterance strong. Watch with me, Jesus, in my loneliness, Though others say me nay, yet say thou yes, Though others pass me by, stop thou to bless. Ye, thou dost stop with me this vigil night, To night of pain, to-morrow of delight. I love am thine, thou, Lord, my God, art mine. Passing away, saith the world, passing away, Chances, beauty, and youth, sapped, day by day. Thy life never continuous in one stay. Is the eye wax and dim? Is the dark hair changing to gray, That hath won neither laurel nor bay? I shall clothe myself in spring and bud in May. Thou, root-stricken, shall not rebuild thy decay On my bosom for a, then I answered, yea. Passing away, saith my soul, passing away, With its burden of fear and hope, of labor and play. Harken what the past doth witness and say, Rest in thy gold, a moth is in thine array, A canker is in thy bud, thy leaf must decay. At midnight, at cock-crow, at morning, One certain day, low, the bridegroom Shall come and shall not delay. Watch thou and pray. Then I answered, yea. Passing away, saith my God, passing away, Winter passeth after the long delay, New grapes on the vine, new figs on the tender spray, Turtle calleth turtle in heaven's may. Though I tarry, wait for me, trust me, watch, and pray. Arise, come away, night is past, And lo, it is day. My love, my sister, my spouse, Thou shalt hear me say. Then I answered, yea. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Old and New Year Ditties by Christina Rossetti. Read for LibriVox.org by Corrie Samuel. One. New Year met me somewhat sad. Old Year leaves me tired, stripped of favourite things I had, Bulked of much desire. Yet Father on my road to-day, God willing, Father on my way. New Year coming on a pace. What have you to give me? Bring you scathe or bring you grace? Face me with an honest face. You shall not deceive me, be it good or ill, Be it what you will, it needs shall help me on my road. My rugged way to heaven, please God. Watch with me men, women, and children, dear. You who my love, for whom I hope and fear, Watch with me this last vigil of the year. Some hug their business, some their pleasure scheme. Some seize the vacant hour to sleep or dream. Heart locked in heart, some kneel and watch apart. Watch with me blessed spirits, Who delight all through the holy night to walk in white, Or take your ease after the long-drawn fight. I know not if they watch with me. I know they count this eve of resurrection slow, And cry, how long, with urgent utterance strong. Watch with me, Jesus, in my loneliness. Though others say me nay, yet say thou yes. Though others pass me by, stop thou to bless. Yea, thou dost stop with me this vigil night, To night of pain, to-morrow of delight. I love am thine, thou Lord, my God, art mine. Three. Passing away, saith the world, passing away. Chances, beauty and youth sapped day by day. Thy life never continuous in one's day. Is the eye wax and dim? Is the dark hair changing to grey, That hath one neither laurel nor bay? I shall clothe myself in spring, and bud in may. Thou, root-stricken, shall not rebuild thy decay On my bosom for eye. Then I answered, yea. Passing away, saith my soul, passing away, With its burden of fear and hope, of labour and play. Harken what the past does witness and say, Rust in thy gold, a moth is in thine array, A canker is in thy bud, thy leaf must decay. At midnight, at cockroach, at morning, one certain day, Low, the bridegroom shall come, and shall not delay. Watch thou, and pray. Then I answered, yea. Passing away, saith my God, passing away, Winter passeth after the long delay, New grapes on the vine, new figs on the tender spray, Turtle calleth turtle in heaven's may. Though I tarry, wait for me, trust me, watch and pray. Arise, come away, night is past, and low it is day. My love, my sister, my spouse, thou shalt hear me say. Then I answered, yea. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain.