ON GOOD FRIDAY

See the land, her Easter keeping,
Rises as her Maker rose.
Seeds, so long in darkness sleeping,
Burst at last from winter snows.
Earth with heaven above rejoices;
Fields and gardens hail the spring;
Shaughs and woodlands ring with voices,
While the wild birds build and sing.

You, to whom your Maker granted
Powers to those sweet birds unknown,
Use the craft by God implanted;
Use the reason not your own.
Here, while heaven and earth rejoices,
Each his Easter tribute bring-
Work of fingers, chant of voices,
Like the birds who build and sing.

Easter Week – Charles Kingsley

Image: Flowerbed in the churchyard of the former St-Mary-at-Lambeth, now home of the Garden Museum © Brian Sibley, 2010

Visit my flickr photosets for a stroll Up the Garden Path