Spring Shall Bloom

Composer / Arranger Notes:

“When I encountered this poem by Christina Rossetti, I immediately thought of my mother’s life. She has had a difficult journey, although someone meeting her for the first time would never know. She lost both of her parents to cancer when she was in college, lost her brother when he was still quite young, and most recently, lost her husband of 43 years (my father) to cancer. I was still very young when her brother passed away, and not born yet to be there for the passing of her parents, but I watched my mother care for my father throughout his battle.

My mother is undoubtedly a strong woman. But even more, she is able to see the good in difficult situations. After everything that has happened, she is able to understand that spring will, in fact, bloom where now the ice is – that all things ultimately teach us something and make us better, if only we will let them. Not only does she go on, but she chooses love, positivity, and selflessness.

There seemed no better way to honor my mother (who is a lover of music and a musician herself) than to have women’s choirs across the country singing these words. Perhaps someone going through a difficult time will find comfort in them.”

Amen by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

It is over. What is over?
Nay, now much is over truly.
Harvest days we toiled to sow for;
Now the sheaves are gathered newly,
Now the wheat is garnered duly.

It is finished. What is finished?
Much is finished known or unknown:
Lives are finished; time diminished;
Was the fallow field left unsown?
Will these buds be always unblown?

It suffices. What suffices?
All suffices reckoned rightly:
Spring shall bloom where now the ice is,
Roses make the bramble sightly,
And the quickening sun shine brightly,
And the latter wind blow lightly,
And my garden teem with spices.