IF one should wake one's frozen faith br In sunlight of her radiant eyes, br Bid it forget its dream of death, br In this new dream of Paradise, br Bid it forget the long, slow pain, br The agony when, all in vain, br It fought for life, and how one swore, br Once cold, it should not waken more; br br br If hope one buried long ago br Should thrill beneath those smiles of hers, br Should in one's sere life stir and grow, br As in brown woods the young spring stirs; br If, breaking icy bonds of grief, br One's soul should start to bud and leaf, br It might forget in that springtide br How last year's leaves fell off and died. br br If from warm faith and hope set high br A lovely living child was born, br With lips more pure than starlit sky, br And eyes as clear as summer morn, br Child-love might grow till one forgot br Old love, that was and now is not-- br Forgot that far-off time of tears, br And all these desolated years. br br br And yet of faith, hope, love, one knows br So well what end the years will make, br If one should dig beneath Time's snows br And wake them now for her sweet sake. br New life may mean new joy; but then, br What lives again may die again, br And to that second death there may br Be no new resurrection-day.