I watched the snowflakes as they fell,
And listened to the winter's moan;
Death's icy hand plucked bud and flower,
And turned my stricken heart to stone.
A pall of snow lay on the earth;
A pall of grief closed in my life;
Oh, would it never, never cease—
'Tween life and death, this bitter strife?
In far Judea's rock-ribbed tomb,
O'ercome at last, death vanquished lies;
Earth's champion, Life, comes forth to claim
From willing hearts the victor's prize.
Hail to the conq'ror! Hail! all hail!
There is no death! Mankind is free!
Let all the earth awake! awake!
For Truth has won the victory!
The sunbeams filter through the leaves;
Life throbs in every bud and flower;
With quickening pulse my heart leaps forth
To greet the resurrection hour!
