Christ is risen

"Christ is risen" they sing in church.

Yet I am sad... my soul is silent.

The world is steeped in blood and tears,

and so this hymn before the altars

sounds like an insult.

Were He present among us to see

what our glorious age has achieved --

how brother comes to hate his brother,

and how shameful is mankind --

and if, within the shining church,

this "Christ is risen" he were to hear,

what bitter tears

before the crowd would He sob!