Easter

Fannie Isabelle Sherrick    

Let all the flowers wake to life;  

Let all the songsters sing;

Let everything that lives on earth  Become a joyous thing.    

Wake up, thou pansy, purple-eyed,  And greet the dewy spring;

Swell out, ye buds, and o’er the earth  Thy sweetest fragrance fling.    

Why dost thou sleep, sweet violet?  The earth has need of thee;

Wake up and catch the melody  That sounds from sea to sea.    

Ye stars, that dwell in noonday skies,  Shine on, though all unseen;

The great White Throne lies just beyond,  

The stars are all between.    

Ring out, ye bells, sweet Easter bells,  And ring the glory in;

Ring out the sorrow, born of earth—  Ring out the stains of sin.    

O banners wide, that sweep the sky,  Unfurl ye to the sun;

And gently wave about the graves  Of those whose lives are done.    

Let peace be in the hearts that mourn—  

Let “Rest” be in the grave;

The Hand that swept these lives away  Hath power alone to save.

Ring out, ye bells, sweet Easter bells,  And ring the glory in;

Ring out the sorrow, born of earth—  Ring out the stains of sin.