The Snow, Op. 26, No. 1

O snow, which sinks so light,
Brown earth is hid from sight,
O soul, be thou as white,
As white as snow, as snow,
O snow, which falls so slow,
Dear earth quite warm below;
O heart,
O heart, so keep thy glow,
Beneath the snow, the snow.
O snow in thy soft grave
Sad flow’rs, sad flow’rs the winter brave;
O heart, so soothe and save,
so soothe, as does the snow.
The snow must melt, must go,
Fast, fast, fast, fast as water flow.
Not thus, my soul,
O sow
Thy gifts to fade like snow,
Not thus, not thus,
O sow not thus thy gifts to fade like snow.
O snow, thou’rt white no more,
Thy sparkling too, is o’er;
Be as bevore,
Was bright the snow.
Then as the snow all pure,
O heart be, but endure;
Through all the years full sure,
Not as the snow, not as the snow.