There are just three stanzas in this fifth and final poem in a week of poems from the pen of Scottish Presbyterian pastor, Horatio Bonar. Here he aptly describes three things that bring tears to the human heart.

This week I heard of the death of three people that I did not know; but who were close to people I do know and love, and so their passing touches me in a second circle of love. Sorrow weeps . . . yes, Horatio. Thank you for these words.

Lunch with two friends and a couple lively phone conversations, not to mention that little bird right outside my studio window--all sources of joy! Joy weeps . . . yes, Horatio. You understand well the connection between glistening eyes and joy.

I saw a car on the road that I thought was my husband (it wasn't he was at work, dutifully carrying on his daily tasks). I was taken by surprise at how my heart leaped and the love for him swelled up anew as I remembered the first months of seeing him come in his car for a date or meal. Love weeps . . . yes, Horatio. You know how true love leads one to God and back to earth again in a golden circle of contentment.

The Three Weepers

Sorrow weeps!—

And drowns its bitterness in tears;

My child of sorrow,

Weep out the fullness of thy passionate grief,

And drown in tears

The bitterness of lonely years.

God gives the rain and sunshine mild,

And both are best, my child!

Joy weeps!—

And overflows its banks with tears;

My child of joy,

Weep out the gladness of thy pent-up heart,

And let thy glistening eyes

Run over in their ecstasies;

Life needeth joy; but from on high

Descends what cannot die!

Love weeps!—

And feeds its silent life with tears;

My child of love,

Pour out the riches of thy yearning heart,

And, like the air of even,

Give and take back the dew of heaven;

And let that longing heart of thine

Feed upon love divine!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

MUSIC & LINKS

Sharing music you may not have heard, or in settings you may not know, from a variety of artists and styles, some with texts, some instrumental only. All selected because they bring a tear to my eye in listening to them with these three stanzas of poetry in mind:

Music for Sorrow . . .