For Easter Morn

How gladly dawns the Easter sun!
The wide world thrills with prayer and praise.
Gone by are all Lent's mournful days,
And Hope and Joy seem just began.

The laughing streams to seaward run—
Wild flowers bedeck the woodland ways,
And homing birds sing merry lays
Of triumph over winter done.

Shall we not joy? We, too, have won,
Through winter's hostile ice-bound days,
To this new dawn that all things praise;
Let us be glad—aye, every one—
When gladly dawns the Easter sun.