On Easter morn I had a wondrous vision, And sounds I heard and sights beheld Elysian. A-straying far beyond reclaim or pity, Methought I came to the celestial city; I entered by an ever-open gateway, By sights and sounds to be bewildered straightway; And fell exhausted like a breaking billow, The sky my roof, the floor of glass my pillow, While high above me in a golden tower A silver chime was pealing out the hour. I ne'er had listened to such tuneful ringing; 'T was like a choir of holy angels singing; And as it rang no sadness did it borrow, But lifted off my soul its load of sorrow; It did not ring of sin and condemnation, It rang of holiness and free salvation; To me, beneath, a breathless, hated dreamer, It rang the deathless love of the Redeemer; Again, 't was like a tide of glory flowing, Forever there, and yet forever going. And where I lay, deprived of speech and motion, 'T was rolling over like a rolling ocean; Not cold and deathlike as a mundane billow, But warm with life, and toying with my pillow. I woke in tears, because without the portal: "Alas," I said, "I am again a mortal!" Ah me! not yet eternal peace is given; We hear not yet the harmony of Heaven; A chime of silver in a golden tower Rings not today the resurrection hour; But in our waking, not our sleeping vision, We hear the sounds, and see the sights Elysian. In work for Christ we find unfailing pleasure; In blameless living lay up heavenly treasure; To him who lives, no humblest duty scorning, Doth every sunrise bring an Easter morning. |