As Mary Walked In The Garden Green

1 As Mary walked in the garden green
Of Joseph of Arimathee,
Fair shrubs and flowers she passed between,
Tall palm and the wide plane tree.
’Twas early morn as with spice and balm
Full laden she went, when lo!
She thought she heard in an accent calm
A voice which she seemed to know:

Refrain:
"I am the Gardener true!
Mine are the violets blue,
The lily all white,
And the rose so bright,
And pansy of purple hue!"

2 As Mary came to the tomb of stone,
She could not her grief contain,
Now full aware that no Christ was there,
Who late in the rock had lain.
And bitter grief in her soul was stirred,
When hard by the grave’s low cell
She felt right sure that a voice she heard,
A voice which she knew full well: [Refrain]

3 As Mary listened, she gazed around,
When, dim in the morning gloom,
She saw One stand with a spade in hand,
Full close to the sacred tomb.
"Good sir, now tell, hast thou borne Him hence?
O say where He now doth lie!"
While lo! seemed borne to her listening sense,
From some blessèd bright One nigh: [Refrain]

4 As Mary hearkened, her name she heard:
"O Mary!"— She turned in haste,
And joy shone out at the gracious word,
Which every fear effaced.
"Rabboni! Lord!" ’Twas her Master good
She welcomed with love’s survey,
Who ’neath a gardener’s guise had stood,
And seemed to her soul to say: [Refrain]

5 As Mary mused upon things unseen,
She learnt how the Lord doth scan,
And claim each floweret and blossom green
Which blooms in the heart of man.
Fair buds of hope, and of longings nigh,
With purity’s flower of snow,
And glowing love with its vermeil dye,
And charity’s purple glow.

Refrain:
He is the Gardener true!
His are the violets blue,
The lily all white,
And the rose so bright,
And pansy of purple hue!

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #8603

• MIDI file from The Cyber Hymnal #8603