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A Tennyson read by Classic Poetry Aloud:\n\nhttp://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/\n\n\n\nGiving voice to the poetry of the past.\n\n \n\n---------------------------------------\n\n \n\nTears Idle Tears\n\nby Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809 \u2013 1892)\n\n \n\nSongs from \u201cThe Princess.\u201d IV. Tears, Idle Tears\n\n \n\nTears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,\n\nTears from the depth of some divine despair\n\nRise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,\n\nIn looking on the happy Autumn-fields,\n\nAnd thinking of the days that are no more.\n\n \n\nFresh as the first beam glittering on a sail,\n\nThat brings our friends up from the underworld,\n\nSad as the last which reddens over one\n\nThat sinks with all we love below the verge;\n\nSo sad, so fresh, the days that are no more.\n\n \n\nAh, sad and strange as in dark summer dawns\n\nThe earliest pipe of half-awaken\u2019d birds\n\nTo dying ears, when unto dying eyes\n\nThe casement slowly grows a glimmering square;\n\nSo sad, so strange, the days that are no more.\n\n \n\nDear as remember\u2019d kisses after death,\n\nAnd sweet as those by hopeless fancy feign\u2019d\n\nOn lips that are for others; deep as love,\n\nDeep as first love, and wild with all regret;\n\nO Death in Life, the days that are no more.\n\n \n\nFirst aired: 13 May 2008\n\n \n\nFor hundreds more poetry readings, visit the Classic Poetry Aloud index.\n\n \n\nReading \xa9 Classic Poetry Aloud 2009