Living

Teares are Tongues.

by Robert Herrick 1591–1674

From Hesperides (1648)

Living

WHen Julia chid, I stood as mute the while,
As is the fish, or tonguelesse Crocodile.
Aire coyn'd to words, my Julia co'd not heare;
But she co'd see each eye to stamp a teare:
By which, mine angry Mistresse might descry,
Teares are the noble language of the eye.
And when true love of words is destitute,
The Eyes by tears speak, while the Tongue is mute.

MLA

Herrick, Robert. “Teares are Tongues.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/151/.

Chicago

Herrick, Robert. “Teares are Tongues.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/151/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Robert Herrick