Easter Week by Charles Kingsley — Read

(Written for music to be sung at a parish industrial exhibition)

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.

Eversley, 1867.