William Alabaster

Sonnet 71

When without tears I look on Christ, I see

Only a story of some passion,
Which any common eye may wonder on;
But if I look through tears Christ smiles on me.
He bendeth down to my devotion,
And from his side the blood doth spin, whereon
My heart, my mouth, mine eyes still sucking be;
Like as in optick works, one thing appears
In open gaze, in closer otherwise.
Then since tears see the best, I ask in tears
Lord, either thaw mine eyes to tears, or freeze
My tears to eyes, or let my heart tears bleed,
Or bring where eyes, nor tears, nor blood shall need.