Sonnet 34

Why didst thou promise such a beauteous day,

And make me travel forth without my cloak,

To let base clouds o’ertake me in my way,

Hiding thy bravery in their rotten smoke?

’Tis not enough that through the cloud thou break

To dry the rain on my storm-beaten face,

For no man well of such a salve can speak

That heals the wound and cures not the disgrace;

Nor can thy shame give physic to my grief:

Though thou repent, yet I have still the loss;

The offender’s sorrow lends but weak relief

To him that bears the strong offence’s cross.

Ah, but those tears are pearl which thy love sheds,

And they are rich, and ransom all ill deeds.

Why did you promise a beautiful day—

I even left without my umbrella—

Only to turn and cloud the way

With pain, heartbreak, drama?

So while you now run your hand through the storm

To wipe raindrops from my face—

It’s a superficial balm

That can’t reach the deeper disgrace.

So while you now say “I’m sorry”—

It doesn’t erase the loss.

Words of remorse can’t heal the

Man still bearing the cross.

But it’s like pearls redeeming us all

When tears from your eyes fall.