Cold December Flies Away

Cold December flies away at the rose-red splendour,
April’s crowning glory breaks while the whole world wonders
At the holy unseen power of the tree that bears the flower.
On the blessed tree blooms the rose-red flower.
On the tree blooms the rose here in love’s own garden,
Full and strong in glory.

In the hopeless time of sin shadows deep had fallen.
All the world lay under death. Eyes were closed in sleeping.
But, when all seemed lost in night came the sun whose golden light
Brings unending joy, brings the endless joy
Of our hope, highest hope, of our hope’s bright dawning,
Son beloved of heaven.

Now the bud has come to bloom, and the world awakens.
In the lily’s purest flower dwells a wondrous fragrance.
And it spreads to all the earth from the moment of its birth;
And its beauty lives. In the flower it lives,
In the flower, and it spreads in its heav’nly brightness
Sweet perfume delightful.