Classic Poem

Christ! arisen? Lift your eyes!
Lo! what glory fills the skies!
Winter's death is dead, and born
The summer's hope in springing corn.
While the lily cleaves the sod,
Who shall bind the Son of God?

Christ! arisen? The sun to-day
Unseals a tomb, and rolls away
All mists of midnight like a stone,
All raiment save of light alone.
Shall the single shadow fall
On the Christ, the Lord of all?

Christ! arisen? Roman steel
Sentineled that stone and seal.
Rome, in her imperial power,
Watched until the dawning hour,—
Watched and witnessed, bowed and said,
“Christ is risen from the dead!”

Oh, by all an Age's trust,
By our darlings laid in dust,
In our griefs the single stay,
Of our joys the central ray,—
Cease, my doubt, thy sentry tread,
“Christ is risen from the dead!”