Come Forth, Awake

By Terrence Sylvester Glennamaddy

Burst forth, ye blooms, ‘tis Easter-tide;
Turn your face upward toward the sun.
No longer in the earth bide,
Behold, new life has just begun.
The trumpet-sound of spring has blown.
Arise, ye lilies of the field,
Why longer sleep ye all alone,
The dark, damp earth to be your shield?

They placed Him in a rock-bound grave,
His body slept in quiet death;
But while he rested in the cave
The voice of God did give Him breath.
“Come forth, ye Son of God, come forth!
The seal is broke; the stone’s away.
No rock shall bind the Lord. Come forth
Into the brightness of the day.”

Come forth, oh, sons of men, awake!
The debt is paid; why linger now?
The cross was raised just for your sake,
And at its foot, my brother, bow.
Awake, ye lilies of the field,
He rose, the sleeping Son of God.
For man, this day, has been revealed
The resurrection from the sod!

(1931)