Easter Poem

Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain

Come, ye faithful, raise the strain 

Of triumphant gladness; 

God hath brought forth Israel 

Into joy from sadness; 

Loosed from Pharaoh's bitter yoke 

Jacob's sons and daughters, 

Led them with unmoistened foot 

Through the Red Sea waters.

'Tis the spring of souls today; 

Christ hath burst his prison, 

And from three days' sleep in death 

As a sun hath risen; 

All the winter of our sins, 

Long and dark, is flying 

From his light, to whom we give 

Laud and praise undying.

Now the queen of seasons, bright 

With the day of splendor, 

With the royal feast of feasts, 

Comes its joy to render; 

Comes to glad Jerusalem, 

Who with true affection 

Welcomes in unwearied strains 

Jesus' resurrection.

Neither might the gates of death, 

Nor the tomb's dark portal, 

Nor the watchers, nor the seal 

Hold thee as a mortal; 

But today amidst the twelve 

Thou didst stand, bestowing 

That thy peace which evermore 

Passeth human knowing.

"Alleluia!" now we cry 

To our King immortal, 

Who, triumphant, burst the bars 

Of the tomb's dark portal; 

"Alleluia!" with the Son, 

God the Father praising, 

"Alleluia!" yet again 

To the Spirit raisin