Easter, Gerard Manley Hopkins

From Easter


Gather gladness from the skies;
Take a lesson from the ground;
Flowers do ope their heavenward eyes
And a Spring-time joy have found;
Earth throws Winter’s robes away,
Decks herself for Easter Day.

Beauty now for ashes wear,
Perfumes for the garb of woe.
Chaplets for disheveled hair,
Dances for sad footsteps slow;
Open wide your hearts that they
Let in joy this Easter Day.

 

I had a dream, A wondrous thing:
It seem'd an evening in the Spring;
- A little sickness in the air
From too much fragrance everywhere:-
As I walk'd a stilly wood,
Sudden, Death before me stood...
'Death,' said I, what do you here
At this Spring season of the year?'


from Spring and Death, Gerard Manley Hopkins (or possibly by his father).