Lo, Summer Comes Again!

Lo

sum­mer comes again!

And af­ter spring­tide rain

The quick­en­ing sun­beams

Flood the world with light;

See

high in night’s clear skies

The joy of long­ing eyes

The moon of har­vest

Shines se­rene­ly bright.

O Lord of Heav’n and earth

Who giv­est joy and mirth

Open our lips to show

Thy won­drous praise;

Our hearts are dull and cold

We leave Thy love un­told;

O give us strength our

Anthems glad to raise.

Each month we sow or reap

Each hour we toil or sleep

Thou giv­est life and joy

And Thou alone;

O grant to each and all

When death’s dark sha­dows fall

To stand true work­ers

Round our mas­ter’s throne.

So

life’s long task-work o’er

Set free for ev­er­more

We shall sit down at Thy

Great har­vest feast;

Reaper and sow­er met

The burn­ing heat for­get

And taste God’s love

The great­est as the least.

Yea

Lord

Thou too dost claim

The sow­er’s mys­tic name;

Thou send­est forth Thy reap­ers

To their field;

O be it theirs to bear

The full corn in the ear

When Thy true seed its

Hundred-fold shall yield.

Root out the ev­il tares

Earth’s vex­ing griefs and cares

Bind the hot blasts that wi­ther

And de­stroy;

And when the hour is come

To bring the full sheaves home

Bid men and an­gels

Share Thy har­vest joy.