Classic Poem

C HRISTIAN , awake! Let thy soul swell with gladness!
Prospects of glory dawn bright on thy sadness;
Rising, immortal, thy spirit shall sing,—
Grave, where's thy victory; Death, where's thy sting?

Sown in corruption, the frame lies decaying;
Raised in its glory, all beauty displaying,
Body and spirit united shall sing,—
Grave, where's thy victory; Death, where's thy sting?

Peacefully sleep till the trumpet awake thee;
He whom thou lovest will never forsake thee;
Ransomed from guilt and from death, thou shalt sing,—
Grave, where's thy victory; Death, where's thy sting?

Then, when this mortal, immortal awaking,
Triumphs, exulting, Death's dark fetters breaking;
Man in his glorified nature shall sing,—
Grave, where's thy victory; Death, where's thy sting?