Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DAY OF JOY, by LUCY LARCOM Poet's Biography First Line: This is the gladness of our easter morning Last Line: This is the glory of our easter day. Subject(s): Easter; Holidays; The Resurrection | ||||||||
THIS is the gladness of our Easter morning -- That nothing now in all the world is dead, The roadside dust is tinted with forewarning Of heavenly verdure mortal feet shall tread. New meanings each blue break of sky discloses; New messages on all the winds are heard; New fragrance haunts the lilies and the roses -- His life, His breath -- the Spirit and the word. The flowers of spring are no vain decoration Of earth's dead bosom; earth is all alive In the awakening dawn of new creation, Whence soul and body perfect strength derive. The untainted health, the everlasting beauty! Even frozen hearts the warm contagion feel Of spiritual love and holy duty; The sickliest plant Christ's living touch can heal. This is the wonder of the Resurrection -- That things unvalued now reveal their worth That every human longing and affection Feels now the glow of its immortal birth. Our common toil, the mutual hopes we cherish, The friendly word, the homely help we give Each other in His love's name, shall not perish; No thought that lives in him shall cease to live. We who are of the earth need not be earthly; God made our nature like His own, divine; Nothing but selfishness can be unworthy Of His pure image meant through us to shine. The death of deaths it is, ourself to smother In our own pleasures, His dishonored gift; And life -- eternal life -- to love each other; Our souls with Christ in sacrifice to life. This is the beauty of our Easter morning; In Him humanity may now arise Out of the grave of self, all baseness scorning -- The holy radiance of His glorious eyes Illumines everywhere uplifted faces; Touches the earthly with a heavenly glow; And in that blessed light all human graces Unto divine beatitudes must grow. Feeding on husks no more, the wanderers gather Around the hearthstone of the house above -- The Son has brought them home unto the Father; His spirit in their hearts is peace and love. Souls speak in the lost language of communion, And angels echo back the words they say, Earth is restored to heaven in deathless union -- This is the glory of our Easter day. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EASTER EVE by FRANCIS WILLIAM BOURDILLON EASTER SUNDAY by LUCILLE CLIFTON GOD SEND EASTER by LUCILLE CLIFTON NOT THE CUCKOLD'S DREAM; FOR SAM PEREIRA by NORMAN DUBIE EASTER HYMN by GEORGE SANTAYANA I DEFINE THE DARKNESS CORRECT: THE FESTIVAL OF THE FRERES LUMIERES by ELENI SIKELIANOS SPANISH EASTER: 1926 by CONRAD AIKEN |
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