Spring burst today,
For Christ is risen and all the earth’s at play.
Flash forth, thou Sun,
The rain is over and gone, its work is done.
Winter is past,
Sweet Spring is come at last, is come at last.
Bud, Fig and Vine,
Bud, Olive, fat with fruit and oil and wine.
Break forth this morn
In roses, thou but yesterday a Thorn.
Uplift thy head,
O pure white Lily thro’ the Winter dead.
Beside your dams
Leap and rejoice, you merry-making Lambs.
All Herds and Flocks
Rejoice, all Beasts of thickets and of rocks.
Sing, Creatures, sing,
Angels and Men and Birds and everything.
All notes of Doves
Fill all our world; this is the time of loves.
Christina Rosetti (1830-94)
Commentary by Philip Comfort and Daniel Partner:
This poem ties in various images from Song of Solomon, especially the passage below where the beloved asks his lover to join him in celebrating spring’s arrival after a long winter. Again, Christ’s resurrection can be seen in a similar way. When Christ arose from the grave, sin’s long, cold dominion over humanity ended, and new life burst forth in the hearts of the followers. As we enter this season of new life, let us not only be glad winter is past, but let us rejoice that Christ is risen!
My beloved speaks and says to me: ‘Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; now the winter is past, rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land. fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, come away.
Song of Solomon 2: 10-13