I Heard the Winter Birds in Song

I heard the winter birds in song
Despite a bitter day,
Their joy not caged by ice or snow
Though spring chose to delay.

Spring songs sung in the frosty morn,
Trilled from a snowy bough-
Whence comes such joy when world seems dead
And frozen in the now?

Do they believe what can’t be seen
Of Your almighty Will,
And sing while waiting warmer days,
Your promises fulfilled?

I wonder if they hear a Voice
In all this endless chill,
That tells them death will burst in flow’r
And all their hunger fill.

That life still dwells in barren branch
And though the blizzard swirls,
They still can hope for death thrown off
When life once more unfurls.

I trudge along through frozen world
And everything seems wrong,
But like the birds I fluff my coat
And hum a hopeful song.