Poems (Sharpless)/Easter
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.
Oh heart, that grieves to see 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 nookThy favorite blossoms smile.
Behold! o'er the wintry earth Dawns the glorious Easter morn, And in souls that are sorrow-wornA 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?
Not Nature's whisper might reach The mourner so blind and dumb! But the gracious message hath comeIn 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.
"No sorrow, whatever it be, 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 BookClearly on Easter Day.