Poems for Easter Day

(Lifted from the collection of rhyming poems of the late American poet, James J. Metcalfe, compiled by election lawyer Romy Macalintal)

The resurrection

(Lifted from James J. Metcalfe’s My Rosary of Rhyme, 1952 Edition)

—With the Imprimatur of the late Francis Cardinal Spellman,

Archbishop of New York, April 28,1952—

And on the third day He arose, and Mary coming there

Beheld the stone was rolled away, the sepulcher was bare.

And then an angel spoke to her, and told her not to fear

“The Lord is risen from the dead, He is no longer here.”

“Go tell you His disciples now, wherever they may be

That He has gone before you, to the land of Galillee.”

O God, that we may rise above, the sins that weigh the soul

And that our hearts may have the faith, to make us clean and whole.

Give us the fervor and the grace, to start our lives anew

And make each moment one of praise, and gratitude to you.

Hosanna

(From Metcalfe’s Daily Poem Portraits, 1954 Edition)

The Roman guards are sleeping, and the stone was rolled away

The Lord has risen from His grave, It is our Easter Day.

Hosanna to the Highest, and all glory be to God

Who gave His only Son to be, our Saviour on this sod.

The Baby Jesus Whom He sent, was truly Christ the King

And we are grateful for His love, and all His suffering.

With all our hearts we do believe, and kneel before His throne

To worship Him and pray that all, our sins we may atone.

And as this Easter morning is, a holy memory

Let us remember Him with love, Who died on Calvary.

We sing your glory

(From Metcalfe’s Poem Portraits for Inspiration, 1958 Edition)

Our hearts rejoice with You, O Lord; who rose this Easter Day

Hosanna to the Son of God, as now we kneel and pray.

We praise You and we worship You, Eternal Lord and God

And ask You to forgive us for, our sins upon this sod.

We thank You for Your sufferings, and promise You today

That we will try to live, according to Your way.

O Jesus Christ, Who died for us; please listen to our prayer

And help us to be worthy of, Your kind and loving care.

We join Your resurrection with, the angels at Your grave

And sing Your glory for the souls, You came on earth to save.

Rejoice in him

 (From Metcalfe’s More Poem Portraits, 1951 Edition)

The heavy stone was rolled away, the sepulcher was bare

But in that early morning light, the angels lingered there.

Behold! The Lord has risen, from the grave where He was laid

That life eternal, may be ours, and death forever stayed.

He gave his life that we might rise, above a world of sin,

To glory in his kingdom and, the holiness therein.

Where lonely sorrows disappear, and fears forever cease,

In perfect union with the Prince, of everlasting peace.

Let us rejoice in Him today, with love and gratitude,

And let us walk with courage and, with faith and hope renewed.

Let us rejoice

 (From Metcalfe’s Poem Portraits, 1948 Edition)

Let us rejoice, that Christ our Lord, has risen from the dead,

And in the glory of His name, let us be comforted.

At Calvary upon a cross, He gave His life that we,

Might someday, earn the right to share, In his eternity.

He saved the world from all the sins, we would possess today,

If we did not repent and try, to live a better way.

So let us show our gratitude, in everything we do,

By being kindly neighbors all, and Christians good and true.

Let us give thanks, to Christ our Lord, and honor him today,

For helping us to understand, and showing us the way.