Waste not fresh tears over old griefs.

Waste not fresh tears over old griefs.

We look through gloom and storm-drift
Beyond the years:
The soul would have no rainbow
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We look through gloom and storm-drift
Beyond the years:
The soul would have no rainbow
Hard the eyes no tears.

What gem hath dropp'd, and sparkles o'er his chain?
The tear most sacred, shed for other's pain,
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What gem hath dropp'd, and sparkles o'er his chain?
The tear most sacred, shed for other's pain,
That starts at once--bright pure--from Pity's mine,
Already polish'd by the hand divine!

The tear forgot as soon as shed,
The sunshine of the breast.

The tear forgot as soon as shed,
The sunshine of the breast.

Tears are the summer showers to the soul.

Tears are the summer showers to the soul.

Nothing dries sooner than a tear.
[Lat., Nihil enim lacryma citius arescit.]

Nothing dries sooner than a tear.
[Lat., Nihil enim lacryma citius arescit.]

Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while, so that we can see Life read more

Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while, so that we can see Life with a clearer view again.

And friends, dear friends,--when it shall be
That this low breath is gone from me,
And gone read more

And friends, dear friends,--when it shall be
That this low breath is gone from me,
And gone my bier ye come to weep,
Let One, most loving of you all,
Say, "Not a tear must o'er her fall;
He giveth His beloved sleep."

Oh! too convincing--dangerously dear--
In woman's eye the unanswerable tear!
That weapon of her weakness she can read more

Oh! too convincing--dangerously dear--
In woman's eye the unanswerable tear!
That weapon of her weakness she can wield,
To save, subdue--at once her spear and shield.