A Thousand Years Have Come and Gone

A thou­sand years have come and gone

And near a thou­sand more

Since hap­pier light from Heav­en shone

Than ev­er shone before:

And in the hearts of old and young

A joy most joy­ful stirred

That sent such news from tongue to tongue

As ears had nev­er heard.

Then an­gels on their star­ry way

Felt bliss un­felt be­fore

For news that men should be as they

To dark­ened earth they bore;

So toil­ing men and spir­its bright

A first com­mun­ion had

And in meek mer­cy’s ris­ing light

Were each ex­ceed­ing glad.

And we are glad

and we will sing

As in the days of yore;

Come all

and hearts made rea­dy bring

To wel­come back once more

The day when first on win­try earth

A sum­mer change began

And

dawn­ing in a low­ly birth

Uprose the Light of man.

For trou­ble such as men must bear

From child­hood to four­score

He shared with us

that we might share

His joy for­ev­er­more;

And twice a thou­sand years of grief

Of con­flict

and of sin

May tell how large the har­vest-sheaf

His pa­tient love shall win.