"Let us keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
Let us not bring, upon this joyful morning,
Dead myrrh and spices for our Lord's adorning,
Nor any lifeless thing.
Our gift shall be the fragrance and the splendor
Of living flowers, in breathing beauty tender,
The glory of our spring.
And, with the myrrh, oh, put away the leaven
Of malice, hatred, injuries unforgiven,
And cold and lifeless form;
Still, with the lilies, deeds of mercy bringing,
And fervent prayers, and praises upward springing,
And hopes, pure, bright, and warm.
So shall this Easter shed a fragrant beauty
O'er many a day of dull and cheerless duty,
And light thy wintry way,
Till rest is won, and Patience, smiling faintly,
Upon thy breast shall lay her lilies saintly,
To hail Heaven's Easter Day.
