To a Young Girl

Shall I despise you that your colourless tears Made rainbows in your lashes, and you forgot to weep? Would we were half so wise, that eke a grief out By sitting in the dark, until we fall asleep.I only fear lest, being by nature sunny, By and by you will weep no more at all, And fall asleep in the light, having lost with the tears The colour in the lashes that comes as tears fall.I would not have you darken your lids with weeping Beautiful eyes, but I would have you weep enough To wet the fingers of the hand held over the eye-lids And stain a little the light frock’s delicate stuff.For there came to mind, as I watched you winking the tears down, Laughing faces, blown from the west and the east, Faces lovely and proud that I have prized and cherished, Nor were the loveliest among them those that had wept the least.