Didst thou grasp the meaning? Know that Death was dead? That the seed of woman Had bruised the serpent’s head?
Didst thou know Messiah The gates of hell had broken, And life unto its captives Once for all had spoken?
O! through all the ages, Every son of man, Be he slave or monarch, Born to bliss or ban—
Lord, or prince, or peasant, Jester, sage, or seer, Wife, or child, or mother, Priest, or worshipper—
Through the grave’s lone portals Soon or late had passed, But no sign or token Back to earth had cast!
In Ramah was a voice heard Sounding through the years— Rachel for her children Pouring sighs and tears;
Rizpah for her slain sons Woful vigils keeping; David for young Absalom In the chamber weeping!
All earth’s myriad millions To their dead had cried, Empty arms outreaching In the silence wide,
Yet from out the darkness Came nor word, nor sound, As the long ranks vanished In the black profound—
Came no word till Mary Heard the Angel say— “Christ the Lord is risen; The Lord Christ lives to-day!”