The Reaper And The Flowers - Vas

There is a Reaper, whose name is Death

And, with his sickle keen

He reaps the breaded grain at a breath

And the flowers that grow between

There is a Reaper, whose name is Death

And with his sickle keen

He reaps the breaded grain at a breath

And the flowers that grow between

«Shall I have naught that is fair?», saith he;

«Have naught but the breaded grain?

Thought the breath of these flowers is sweet to me

I will give them all back again.»

He gazed at the flowers with tearful eyes

He kissed their drooping leaves;

It was for the Lord of Paradise

He bound them in his sheaves

«My Lord has need of these flowerets gay,»

The Reaper said, and smiled;

«Dear tokens of the earth are they

Where he was once a child.»

«They shall all bloom in fields of light

Transplanted by my care

And saints, upon their garments white

These sacred blossoms wear.»

And the mother gave in tears and pain

The flowers she most did love;

She knew she would find them all again

In the fields of light above

Oh not in cruelty, not in wrath

The Reaper came that day;

'T was an angel visited the green earth

And took the flowers away

'T was an angel visited the green earth

And took the flowers away