What are these tears?
The ones that wear away
The skin upon my face?
The ones that give strength
Or reveal weakness?
The ones which come
Reason or not?

What are these tears?
Which come at night
When minds dwell in the day?
Which hardly come by day
When distractions prevail?
Which are relieved by sleep
And driven by life?

What are these tears?
Be they love or rage?
Be they pain or joy?
Be they the thriving leaps
Of an exultant heart?
Or be they remanents
Of a soul left to die?