The Anniversaries Poems in Commemoration of Great Men and Great Events. By Thomas H. Gill |
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Easter Day.
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Easter Day.
“Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”—
St. John xx. 29.
Not ours to breathe that early air,
Not ours that fragrant store to bring,
And at the open sepulchre
To find the angel's radiant wing!
Not ours that fragrant store to bring,
And at the open sepulchre
To find the angel's radiant wing!
Not ours sad Mary's tears to weep
O'er the stolen treasure of that grave;
Not ours that mournful watch to keep,
Not ours that vanished form to crave!
O'er the stolen treasure of that grave;
Not ours that mournful watch to keep,
Not ours that vanished form to crave!
Not for our eyes the vision bright
Of that dear form beheld once more!
Those tones our ears may not delight,
Nor hands of ours those wounds explore.
Of that dear form beheld once more!
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Nor hands of ours those wounds explore.
Yet shineth full on our glad eyes
The lustre of that wondrous morn;
For us the Lord of Life doth rise;
Our Lord, our Lover is new born!
The lustre of that wondrous morn;
For us the Lord of Life doth rise;
Our Lord, our Lover is new born!
Yes, ours the gain without the loss,
The glory ours without the gloom;
Nought but our refuge-place that Cross,
Nought but our treasure-house that Tomb!
The glory ours without the gloom;
Nought but our refuge-place that Cross,
Nought but our treasure-house that Tomb!
The grief that streamed from Mary's eyes
Our settled spirits may not move,
But with her joy our gladness vies
To greet the Master whom we love.
Our settled spirits may not move,
But with her joy our gladness vies
To greet the Master whom we love.
We meet, no fearful throng by night,
We dread no tidings dolorous;
Yet shines midst us the Saviour bright,
Yet speaketh He sweet peace to us.
We dread no tidings dolorous;
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Yet speaketh He sweet peace to us.
No lips of ours the news gainsay,
No witness do our hands require;
O sure and sweet the hold we lay
Upon the Lord of our desire!
No witness do our hands require;
O sure and sweet the hold we lay
Upon the Lord of our desire!
We envy not the eyes that saw
Since God hath given our souls to see:
O souls thrice blessëd that could draw
Thy latest blessing, Lord, from Thee!
Since God hath given our souls to see:
O souls thrice blessëd that could draw
Thy latest blessing, Lord, from Thee!
We sweetly store these words divine,
And lowly wait, and trustful love,
Till bright on us Thy face shall shine,
And ours shall be thy smile above.
And lowly wait, and trustful love,
Till bright on us Thy face shall shine,
And ours shall be thy smile above.
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