Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TEARS FOR SALE by LEONORA SPEYER

First Line: I WEPT A TEAR
Last Line: IT'S A THING THAT POETS DO.
Subject(s): TEARS;
I wept a tear
Like a little tune,
A tear for an ache to croon.

A quiet tear
That lay on grief
Like dew on a desperate leaf.

I chose cool words
That spoke of fire,
Metaphor matched desire.

I chose light words
That spoke of pain
In glib, iambic strain.

I chose two nouns
And an adjective
To make my pale tear thrive.

I urged my tear
To an unctuous rhyme,
And sold it for a dime.

I sold the tear
That wept for you;
It's a thing that poets do.



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