In childhood there came a day
That my eyes no longer cried.
And ever after come what may
No tears would ever hide.

No pain would ever wet my cheek
No sorrow stain my eye.
To cry is only for the weak
No strength do tears belie.

No loss was ever so severe
To make my eyes go red
And render even one small tear.
I'd lock them down, instead.

No hardship ever broke me down
No sadness overcame me
Too mighty was my steely frown
For tears to fall and shame me.

So now I'm at a total loss
And puzzle though I might.
This conundrum I've come across
I cannot answer right.

How can my armor now be cracked?
It never was before.
How can emotions be so stacked
That tears could hit the floor?

And how I try to understand
The genesis of how it's so,
Feelings that I can't remand
So powerful they grow.

And how can beauty do to me
What pain and loss could not.
Just how does love make tears run free
And render my defenses naught?

How could a thing that feels so right
Break down my hardened wall?
That even while I'm smiling bright
Unchecked those tears can fall?

And how can I be so unshamed
To feel so deep a touch
To swim in feelings still unnamed
And relish them so much?

In life some things I can't explain
Another now I know.
Make no mistake I won't complain.
That love now makes tears flow.