Happy New Year!

Up the Hill, Down the Hill

Old One, lie down,
Your journey is done,
Little New Year
Will rise with the sun.
Now you have come to
The foot of the hill,
Lay down your bones,
Old Year and lie still.

Young one, step out,
Your journey’s begun,
Weary Old Year
Makes way for his Son.
Now you have started
To climb up the hill,
Put best foot forward,
New Year with a will.

Up the hill, down the hill,
Which is the best?
Up-hill is labour,
And down-hill is rest.

The New Book of Days, Eleanor Farjeon (Henry Z. Walck, Incorporated, New York, 1941)