Poems (Dorr)/Daybreak
For works with similar titles, see Daybreak.
DAYBREAK
AN EASTER POEM
Mary Magdalene, At the break of day,Wan with tears and watching, Hasted on her way;
Bearing costly spices, Myrrh, and sweet perfume,Through the shadowy garden To the Master's tomb.
Slowly broke the gray dawn: On her head the breezeShook a rain of dew-drops From the cypress-trees.
Rose and lily parted As to let her pass,And the violets blessed her From the tender grass.
Little heed she paid them; Christ, the Lord, was dead;All at last was over, All at last was said.
What of hope remainèd? Black against the sky,Calvary's awful crosses Stretched their arms on high!
Mary Magdalene Made her bitter moan:"From the sealéd sepulchre Who shall roll the stone?"
Swift she ran, her spirit Filled with awe and fear;Wide the door stood open As her feet drew near!
All the place was flooded With a radiance bright;Forth into the darkness Streamed a holy light.
Down she stooped, and peering The dread tomb within,Saw a great white angel Where the Lord had been!
Sore she cried in anguish: "Who hath him betrayed?They have taken away my Lord! Where is he laid?"
"Nay," the shining angel, Calmly smiling, said—"Why seek ye the living Down among the dead?
"He is not here, but risen!" All her soul stood still;Through her trembling pulses Ran a conscious thrill.
"Mary!" said a low voice; "Rabboni!" answered she.Then life was brought to light And immortality!
Mary Magdalene, First of woman bornTo see the clear light streaming O'er the hills of morn;
First to hail the Lord Christ, Conqueror of Death,First to bow before Him With abated breath;
First to hear the Master Say—"From Death's dark prison,From its bonds and fetters, Lo! I have arisen!
"Now to God, my Father— Mine and yours—I go;And because I live Ye shall live also!"
Didst thou grasp the meaning? Know that Death was dead?That the seed of woman Had bruised the serpent's head?
Didst thou know Messiah The gates of hell had broken,And life unto its captives Once for all had spoken?
O! through all the ages, Every son of man,Be he slave or monarch, Born to bliss or ban—
Lord, or prince, or peasant, Jester, sage, or seer,Wife, or child, or mother, Priest, or worshipper—
Through the grave's lone portals Soon or late had passed,But no sign or token Back to earth had cast!
In Ramah was a voice heard Sounding through the years—Rachel for her children Pouring sighs and tears;
Rizpah for her slain sons Woful vigils keeping;David for young Absalom In the chamber weeping!
All earth's myriad millions To their dead had cried,Empty arms outreaching In the silence wide,
Yet from out the darkness Came nor word, nor sound,As the long ranks vanished In the black profound—
Came no word till Mary Heard the Angel say—"Christ the Lord is risen; The Lord Christ lives to-day!
From the empty sepulchre Streamed the Light Divine;Grave where is thy victory? Where, O Death, is thine?
Mary Magdalene, Hope is born again;Clear the Day-star rises To the eyes of men.
Lo! the mists are fleeing! Shine, O Olivet,For the crown of promise On thy brow is set!
Lift your heads, ye mountains! Clap your hands, ye hills!Into rapturous singing Break, ye murmuring rills!
Shout aloud, O forests! Swell the song, O seas!Wake, resistless ocean, All your symphonies!
Wave your palms, O tropics! Lonely isles, rejoice!O ye silent deserts, Find a choral voice!
Winds, on mighty trumpets, Blow the strains abroad,While each star in heaven Hails its risen Lord!
"Alleluia! Alleluia!"— How the voices ring!Alleluia! Alleluia!" Earth and heaven sing!
Alleluia! Christ is risen! Chant his praise alway!From the sealèd sepulchre Christ is risen to-day!