O dearest bloom the seasons know, br Flowers of the Resurrection blow, br Our hope and faith restore; br And through the bitterness of death br And loss and sorrow, breathe a breath br Of life forevermore! br br The thought of Love Immortal blends br With fond remembrances of friends; br In you, O sacred flowers, br By human love made doubly sweet, br The heavenly and the earthly meet, br The heart of Christ and ours!br br John Greenleaf Whittierbr br