Poems (Dodd)/Why weepest Thou?
For works with similar titles, see Why weepest thou?.
"WHY WEEPEST THOU?"[1]
Upon the resurrection morn Of him who died to save,A tearful woman was the first To seek his silent grave.When o'er that love, deserted spot, The mourner came to bow,She heard his well known voice exclaim, "Mary! why weepest thou?"
"Forget thy grief, and haste to those Who now lament for me,And tell them that their risen Lord Thine eyes were blest to see;Say that the Master they have loved, To each his blessing gives;And be thou joyful in the thought, That thy Redeemer lives."
Sad is my spirit, and cast down; Disquieted my soul;The rushing torrent of my tears, I can no more control. While, unresisting, to the storm Of passion wild, I bow,I hear my Savior softly say, "Mary, why weepest thou?"
"Let no vain grief thy peace destroy, Thy dearest hopes shall die;They fade before thy vision here, To beam again on high.When prone to murmur at the ills, Which must thy portion be,Look to the fatal cross whereon Thy Saviour died for thee."
Rebuked, dear Jesus, at thy feet My sorrow I resignLet my own heart forget its pain, While I remember thine.Thy thorny crown, thy taunting foes, And wounded side I see;When have I suffered like the Lamb Whose blood was shed for me?
But soon the lesson is forgot, Thoughtless I turn away,And fix my love, my joy, my hope, On idols formed of clay. Alas! the dark, insatiate grave, Is opening for them now;But there again my Saviour speaks, "Mary, why weepest thou?"
"Remember while thy tears flow fast Above the silent sod,Nothing thou lovest there remains, The spirit is with God.Have I not told you many times; And shall my word be vain;That as I triumphed over death, So shall they live again?"
Lord, I believe! Thy soothing words, My faith, my hope increase;Like oil upon the tossing waves, They hush my soul to peace:A peace so deep-felt, and so sweet, Which nothing earthly gives:I will be joyful in the thought, That my Redeemer lives.
- ↑ John 20.