23 Inspirational New Year Poems And Happy Quotes

The post was updated 3rd December 2023

The simple change of a day, from one year to the next, is more than just fireworks and a clinking of glasses.

New year’s eve is a time for reflection, new beginnings, hope for the next year and new year wishes sent up to the universe.

We say goodbye to the old year, remember people we may have lost, think with fondness of happy times, learn the lessons the year has given us.

Then a countdown from 10,9,8…2,1 and it’s a new day, brand new year. Time for a fresh start, another new year’s resolution, looking forward to good times and special occasions ahead. Maybe it’s going to be your best year yet?

What better way than to express the emotions of a bright new year than through poetry and inspirational quotes?

But who has time to scroll through hundreds of poems and quotes to hunt out the right one for you?

That’s why I have collected the top 23 Inspirational New Year Poems and Best New Year Quotes for you.

Add them to a greeting card, sent a short poem as a thoughtful message to a friend or even print them as wall art for inspiration.

There’s a mixture of classical poetry, short inspirational poems, new year quotes and, of course, that famous poem auld lang syne we all know a few lines of (or is that just me?).

The Top Inspirational New Year Poems And Quotes.

A New Year Blessing (author unknown)

At the sound of the tolling midnight bell
a brand new year will begin.
Let’s raise our hopes in a confident toast,
to the promise it ushers in.

May your battles be few, your pleasures many,
your wishes and dreams fulfilled.
May your confidence stand in the face of loss
and give you the strength to rebuild.

May peace of heart fill all your days
may serenity grace your soul.
May tranquil moments bless your life
and keep your spirit whole.

The New Year. by Mehmet Murat Ildan

The New Year is a painting not yet painted; a path not yet stepped on; a wing not yet taken off! Things haven’t happened as yet! Before the clock strikes twelve, remember that you are blessed with the ability to reshape your life!

Maya Angelou, on how you treat others.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

From Conversations with the Universe by KJ Robinson

The Universe is endless,

full of possibilities,

ready to meet you halfway,

all there’s left to do,

is for you

to take a leap of faith

each and every day.

Copyright KJ Robinson Poetry (permission given to use this poem).

You can find K.J’s latest book at www.kjrobinsonpoetry.com or see her beautiful poetry and illustrations on Instagram @kj.robinsonpoetry

In Memoriam, [Ring Out, Wild Bells] by Alfred, Lord 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 darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

This poem is in the public domain.

The Magic Of The New Year, by Amanda Newbery

A canvas lies blank, a story not yet told,

with dreams and hopes, the future to unfold.

The clock strikes twelve, voices sing with joyful cheer,

are you wondering, are you ready to be here?

You can let go now, all that is done,

he shadows of last year, no more need to outrun.

Welcome this dawn, your heart is ready,

your strength, your courage holds you steady.

So let your light shine, there’s no need to hide,

joy is within you, new year Magic on your side.

Copyright @ Amanda Newbery 2023

Brené Brown, on the strength to stand alone.

There will be times when standing alone feels too hard, too scary, and we’ll doubt our ability to make our way through the uncertainty. Someone, somewhere, will say, ‘Don’t do it. You don’t have what it takes to survive the wilderness.’ This is when you reach deep into your wild heart and remind yourself, ‘I am the wilderness.’

Today is your day! By Dr Seuss

Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away! You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

New Year’s Morning by Helen Hunt Jackson

Only a night from old to new!
Only a night, and so much wrought!
The Old Year’s heart all weary grew,
But said: “The New Year rest has brought.”
The Old Year’s hopes its heart laid down,
As in a grave; but, trusting, said:
“The blossoms of the New Year’s crown
Bloom from the ashes of the dead.”
The Old Year’s heart was full of greed;
With selfishness it longed and ached,
And cried: “I have not half I need.
My thirst is bitter and unslaked.
But to the New Year’s generous hand
All gifts in plenty shall return;
True love it shall understand;
By all my failures it shall learn.
I have been reckless; it shall be
Quiet and calm and pure of life.
I was a slave; it shall go free,
And find sweet peace where I leave strife.”
Only a night from old to new!
Never a night such changes brought.
The Old Year had its work to do;
No New Year miracles are wrought.

Always a night from old to new!
Night and the healing balm of sleep!
Each morn is New Year’s morn come true,
Morn of a festival to keep.
All nights are sacred nights to make
Confession and resolve and prayer;
All days are sacred days to wake
New gladness in the sunny air.
Only a night from old to new;
Only a sleep from night to morn.
The new is but the old come true;
Each sunrise sees a new year born.

This poem is in the public domain

Auld Lang Syne, By Robert Burns

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!

Chorus: For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint stowp!
And surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak a cup o’kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

Chorus

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
Sin’ auld lang syne.

Chorus

We twa hae paidl’d in the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin’ auld lang syne.

Chorus

And there’s a hand, my trusty fere!
And gie’s a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak a right gude-willie waught,
For auld lang syne.

Chorus

This poem is in the public domain

On stepping into the next phase of your life, by Mel Robbins

Every phase of your life and career will require a different you. Using the Rule, you’ll become the person you’re meant to become in this next phase of your life.

Josiyah Martin, on New Beginnings

The magic in new beginnings is truly the most powerful of them all.

On letting love be your guide this coming year, by Anaïs Nin

Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age. Each contact with a human being is so rare, so precious, one should preserve it.

The Year, by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

What can be said in New Year rhymes,
That’s not been said a thousand times?

The new years come, the old years go,
We know we dream, we dream we know.

We rise up laughing with the light,
We lie down weeping with the night.

We hug the world until it stings,
We curse it then and sigh for wings.

We live, we love, we woo, we wed,
We wreathe our brides, we sheet our dead.

We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear,
And that’s the burden of the year.

This poem is in the public domain.

On being yourself, author unknown.

Every year you make a resolution to change yourself. This year, make a resolution to be yourself.

On choosing happiness, from the Buddha.

There is no path to happiness. Happiness is the path.

On being yourself, author unknown

Every year you make a resolution to change yourself. This year, make a resolution to be yourself.

The Next Breath, by Amanda Newbery

Dream big or live contented,

sparkle wildly or gently glimmer,

take brave leaps or baby shuffles,

just take a breath and step forward.

This next year, next day, next breath, is full of magic and potential.

Shine Bright my lovely, as you were born to.

Copyright @ Amanda Newbery 2023

On living life with joy and truth, by David Bowie

I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.

On being bold and brave, by Robin Sharma

Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life.

So, how will you use these inspirational new year poems?

Will you read them before writing your new year’s resolution?

Will they inspire you to (intentionally) create a happy year, full of possibility and new hopes?

Will you use them to write a little new year’s eve message to a dear friend?

Or are they simply for you, a small way to fill up your cup before stepping into the next year?

However you use these happy new year poems, I wish you well. Let go of past mistakes, farewell the previous year and have a great time.

May the upcoming year be full of good things, laughter, and potential for you and me.

Do you have a new year poem of your own? Please share it in the comments below. I have a few of my own poems in this post and I would love to read yours too.

Amanda x

If you want more beautiful poems, have a look at these 9 Beautiful Poetry Books about Self-Love.

Struggling to find ideas for new years resolutions? How about journaling? It’s the perfect time to journal. The good news is, I have a huge list of Positive January Journal Prompts for you, ready for January 1st.