For works with similar titles, see Easter.
EASTER
The earth lies brown and bare
Under a dark gray sky,
And the winds, with an angry cry,
Toss the branches aloft in air.
Under a dark gray sky,
And the winds, with an angry cry,
Toss the branches aloft in air.
Oh heart, that grieves to see
Nought abroad but Winter and sleep,
Sweet secrets, most sweet and deep,
Hath Mother Nature for thee.
Nought abroad but Winter and sleep,
Sweet secrets, most sweet and deep,
Hath Mother Nature for thee.
For 'tis but a little while
Ere thou seest where'er thou look,
Each in its dear old nook
Thy favorite blossoms smile.
Ere thou seest where'er thou look,
Each in its dear old nook
Thy favorite blossoms smile.
Behold! o'er the wintry earth
Dawns the glorious Easter morn,
And in souls that are sorrow-worn
A faith all divine has birth.
Dawns the glorious Easter morn,
And in souls that are sorrow-worn
A faith all divine has birth.
Thro' all the ages of men
Hath rung the despairing cry,
Behold! how our darlings die!
Shall we never see them again?
Hath rung the despairing cry,
Behold! how our darlings die!
Shall we never see them again?
Not Nature's whisper might reach
The mourner so blind and dumb!
But the gracious message hath come
In the simplest human speech.
The mourner so blind and dumb!
But the gracious message hath come
In the simplest human speech.
"Why weepest thou?" hath Christ said
Not only once, but now
To thee; "why weepest thou?
Thy loved ones are not dead.
Not only once, but now
To thee; "why weepest thou?
Thy loved ones are not dead.
"No sorrow, whatever it be,
But that I will help thee bear;
Child, cast on Me thy care,
Am not I always with thee?"
But that I will help thee bear;
Child, cast on Me thy care,
Am not I always with thee?"
Oh Father of Spirits! we pray
That Thy Grace may give us to look
On Thy written and unwritten Book
Clearly on Easter Day.
That Thy Grace may give us to look
On Thy written and unwritten Book
Clearly on Easter Day.