Dear InspirationWebs:

[ewt]

What is your favourite text with a "new year" theme?

(Am looking for something I can set, so public domain is best, unless you know the author and think I can get written permission to use it.)

Comments

[liv]

I'm fond of Hardy's The darkling thrush, though it's old-fashioned like a lot of Hardy's stuff (even compared to the fact that the died long enough ago that his poetry is definitely out of copyright). It's not explicitly about the new year, but it refers to the end of winter and renewal.

Also, my immediate association with new year is Unetaneh tokef, which may not be entirely helpful to what you're thinking of. This kind of stuff:

As a shepherd collects his flock, making his herd pass beneath his crook, so are all living souls passed before God to be measured, counted and recorded. You set out a limit for each and every creature, and write down the outcome of their judgement. At the new year it is written, and on the fast of Yom Kippur it is sealed.

[randomchris.livejournal.com]

I was trying to find a text for that competition too, but couldn't think of anything!

Speaking of competitions, if you have any a cappella Christmas carols around, this may be of interest: http://www.chapterhousechoir.org/h.html

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

There's "The Shortest Day" by Susan Cooper, though it's not quite "new year".