by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844 - 1889)
Easter
Language: English
Break the box and shed the nard; Stop not now to count the cost; Hither bring pearl, opal, sard; Reck not what the poor have lost; Upon Christ throw all away: Know ye, this is Easter Day. Build His church and deck His shrine, Empty though it be on earth; Ye have kept your choicest wine... Let it flow for heavenly mirth; Pluck the harp and breathe the horn: Know ye not 'tis Easter morn? Gather gladness from the skies; Take a lesson from the ground; Flowers do ope their heavenward eyes And a Spring-time joy have found; Earth throws Winter's robes away, Decks herself for Easter Day. Beauty now for ashes wear, Perfumes for the garb of woe, Chaplets for dishevelled hair, Dances for sad footsteps slow; Open wide your hearts that they Let in joy this Easter Day. Seek God's house in happy throng; Crowded let His table be; Mingle praises, prayer, and song, Singing to the Trinity. Henceforth let your souls always Make each morn an Easter Day.
Text Authorship:
- by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844 - 1889), "Easter", written 1886 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by David Gow (1924 - 1993), "Easter", published 1965 [SSAA chorus a cappella], from Two Choral Songs, London: Elkin [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-02-05
Line count: 30
Word count: 171