"Of the bright things in earth and air
How little can the heart embrace-
Soft shades and gleaming lights are there
I know it well, but cannot trace!"--KEBLE
Spring comes again, and the freed flowers are springing
From the cold, frost-bound earth;
And on the budding trees the wild birds singing,
Hail Nature's glad new birth!
And hope awakes from many a heart-grave using,
Glad gloriously and new;
And many souls, in faith and trust, are prizing
That promise sweet and true;
Summer and Winter, ever coming, going,
Springtime and Harvest days,
And falling leaves and opening buds are showing
God's ever faithful ways.
That point us to the resurrection morning,
And to the gladsome day,
When light eternal, the far East adorning,
Shall chase these glooms away.
And she shall rise who left our home so early,
And left our hearts in gloom,
Clad like the flowers, in beauty's bloom all fairly
Arising from the tomb.
In that fair Spring and in that Summer shadeless,
With her we, too, shall live--
There, 'neath His smile whose glory, beaming fadeless,
Eternal peace shall give.
And all these ties that Time's rough hand had driven
Shall be united there,
And every cross a Father's hand had given
Be gemmed with jewels fair!