Christina G. Rossetti (1830–1894)

Easter Day

WORDS cannot utter

Christ His returning:—

Mankind, keep Jubilee,

Strip off your mourning,

Crown you with garlands,

Set your lamps burning.

Speech is left speechless;—

Set you to singing,

Fling your hearts open wide,

Set your bells ringing:

Christ the Chief Reaper

Comes, His sheaf bringing.

Earth wakes her song birds,

Puts on her flowers,

Leads out her lambkins,

Builds up her bowers:

This is man’s spousal day,

Christ’s day and ours.