TheTear-Glass
(a tear-glass was a tiny vial of glass that was used at a Roman funeral in ancient times to collect the tears of the mourners and which was then sealed and placed in the tomb. I saw one for the first time today in a little local museum.)
Dim blue-grey glass
Translucent still with iridescent sheen
A slender tube that once held
The tender tears of mourners.
Now long dry, the eyes that wept
And broken hearts are dust;
Even well-loved names are lost
As if written in the summer sands.
Yet, despite the years I seem to see
The ghostly gleam of newer tears
Still moist upon the fragile glass
And I must ask, as countless do:
Who will weep those tears for me?
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Oh, Viv, I will have to Google this. What a fascinating find. Yes, I will be asking the question!
the tears of mourners – incredible
stunning stuff. wow. your powers of description and evocation of the senses and emotions are pretty durn strong.
Agree (very belatedly) with Thea Atkinson; very powerful and emotive writing
that pulls at the heart painfully.