Tears Idle Tears - Alfred, Lord Tennyson
A Poignant Reflection on Times Gone By
Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,
Tears from the depth of some divine despair
Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,
In looking on the happy Autumn-fields,
And thinking of the days that are no more.
Fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail,
That brings our friends up from the underworld,
Sad as the last which reddens over one
That sinks with all we love below the verge;
So sad, so fresh, the days that are no more.
Ah, sad and strange as in dark summer dawns
The earliest pipe of half-awaken'd birds
To dying ears, when unto dying eyes
The casement slowly grows a glimmering square;
So sad, so strange, the days that are no more.
Dear as remember'd kisses after death,
And sweet as those by hopeless fancy feign'd
On lips that are for others; deep as love,
Deep as first love, and wild with all regret;
O Death in Life, the days that are no more.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem “Tears, Idle Tears” appears in his longer work, The Princess, yet stands apart as a notable lyrical interlude. Written in blank verse, the poem begins with a declaration that the source of the tears is unknown. This sense of mystery underscores one of Tennyson’s central themes: how powerful emotions—like grief, nostalgia, and longing—often defy simple explanation.
The speaker’s thoughts focus on the pang of recalling “the days that are no more.” Tennyson moves through a series of luminous and melancholic images—sunlit sails, autumn fields, and half-awakened birds—to capture a sense of beauty tinged with sorrow. These sensory details infuse the poem with Romantic resonance: what once felt vivid now lingers in memory, bringing a mix of pain and sweetness.
The refrain “the days that are no more” rings throughout each stanza, reminding us of both the fleeting nature of life’s tender moments and the deep ache they can leave behind. Tennyson cleverly balances present sensations (the tears themselves) with vivid remembrances (glittering sails, dying eyes) to illustrate how the past remains entwined with the present.
This interplay between loveliness and grief is characteristic of Tennyson’s broader poetic style, particularly during a period marked by personal loss. While “Tears, Idle Tears” does not refer directly to a particular death, its language of mourning resonates with the poet’s experiences of bereavement, echoing themes he would develop more extensively in In Memoriam A.H.H. The final lines encapsulate the paradox of “O Death in Life,” portraying nostalgia as an experience that is both deeply vitalizing and quietly devastating.
Ultimately, “Tears, Idle Tears” reflects on the universal human urge to revisit the past, acknowledging that memories can stir both joy and a profound sense of yearning. Tennyson’s delicate craftsmanship and lyrical depth invite readers to connect their own lost joys and lingering hopes to the poem’s evocative imagery, underscoring the bond between shared experience and poetic expression.
Key points
• Explores nostalgia, longing, and the mystery of powerful emotions.
• Deploys vivid, sensory images to convey the beauty of what is lost.
• Refrain emphasizes the enduring ache of “the days that are no more.”
• Blank verse enhances the poem’s intimate, meditative tone.
• Highlights Tennyson’s broader thematic concerns with memory, sorrow, and life’s fleeting nature.
