Easter Day

A poem by my grandmother, Flora Kangas Manninen

It was Easter tide, but my heart was sad

There were no lovely lilies near

No inspiring choral music met my ear

And my thoughts would wander far away

To where the sun lit up cathedral spires

And crowds, in springtime finery,

Wend to Easter church their happy way.

My surroundings seemed so drab and ordinary

How could my spirit rejoice, uplifted be?

Even though I know the meaning of the day

Somehow the message seemed to fail me.

But when I raised my eyes to see the sun

Rise, resplendent, warm behind the hill

And note the friendly daffodils nodding at my feet

Something stirred within my heart and seemed to say,

Rejoice!

It is Easter Day!