Almond Trees, Renewed in Bloom

Representative Text

1 Almond trees, renewed in bloom,
do they not proclaim
life returning year by year,
love that will remain?
Almond blossom, sign of life
in the face of pain,
raises hope in people’s hearts:
spring has come again.

2 War destroys a thousandfold,
hatred scars the earth,
but the day when almonds bloom
is a time of birth.
Friends, give thanks for almond blooms
swaying in the wind:
token that the gift of life
triumphs in the end.

Source: Singing the Living Tradition #59

Translator: Fred Kaan

Fred Kaan Hymn writer. His hymns include both original work and translations. He sought to address issues of peace and justice. He was born in Haarlem in the Netherlands in July 1929. He was baptised in St Bavo Cathedral but his family did not attend church regularly. He lived through the Nazi occupation, saw three of his grandparents die of starvation, and witnessed his parents deep involvement in the resistance movement. They took in a number of refugees. He became a pacifist and began attending church in his teens. Having become interested in British Congregationalism (later to become the United Reformed Church) through a friendship, he was attended Western College in Bristol. He was ordained in 1955 at the Windsor Road Congregation… Go to person page >

Author: Schalom Ben-Chorin

(no biographical information available about Schalom Ben-Chorin.) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Almond trees, renewed in bloom
Title: Almond Trees, Renewed in Bloom
Translator: Fred Kaan
Author: Schalom Ben-Chorin
Meter: 7.5.7.5 D
Language: English
Copyright: © Fred Kaan

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Singing the Living Tradition #59

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