Mortal and Immortal

How sweetly bloom the cherry tree
Beneath the April sky!
But soon, too soon, their brightness wanes.
For they must fade and die;
And all their petals bright
Soon on the ground we find,
For while the world doth sleep
There comes the midnight wind.

So is the heart that seeks for peace
Within this world of strife,
For many are man’s woes below
In this, our mortal life,
And when all seems delight,
And hours of bliss we find,
Through our frail trees of life
There blows the midnight wind.

Tis true that mortal life is sad
And quickly passes by;
But still abides that ancient gleam
Of Truth that cannot die;
For when self’s flower is dead,
Its petals blown away,
We’ll see the glorious light
Of Truth’s eternal day.