Lord of the changing year
1 Lord of the changing year,
patterns and colours bright;
all that we see and hear,
sunrise and starlit night:
the seasons, Lord, in splendour shine,
your never-failing wise design.
2 Lord of the winter scene,
hard-frozen ice and snow;
death where once life has been,
nothing is seen to grow;
few creatures roam, few birds will fly
across the clouded Christmas sky:
3 Lord of unfolding spring,
promise of life to come;
nature begins to sing
where once her tongue was dumb;
the crocus blooms, the hedgerows wake,
and Easter day is soon to break:
4 Lord of the summer days,
spreading and green the trees;
songthrush lifts high your praise,
gulls light on deep-blue seas;
the warmth and welcome of the sun
brings happiness to everyone:
5 Lord of the autumn gold,
reaping and harvest home,
sheep safely in the fold,
turn of the year has come:
the seasons, Lord, in splendour shine,
your never - failing wise design.
David Mowbray (born 1938)
© David Mowbray/admin The Jubilate Group
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