Such tears as I do weep are tears of joy;
But sadness is with joy forever twined.
Such tears as purest crystal so enshrined
Should be–such wonders of extreme employ!

Miraculous; for what would once destroy,
And in the very wonder, this would bind
Us to our fate, our destiny of mind
And body, soul and sinew, girl and boy:

In youth did we enjoin the gentle touch,
The halting kiss; and these were each the more
Exciting for the newness of the act;

And through the years, each sweet caress was much
More fine than was the last; and did restore
My faith in Paradise with thought and fact.

This sonnet is part of a short sequence; click here to read it all: