What Are Tears For? Poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen

"Why are you crying, " asks the parrot high up on a tree.
The little mouse hides her face and sips the tears from her eyes.
"Something sharp has entered into my eyes, " she says.

"Why are you crying, " asks the bird up high up on a branch.
The little mouse looks up and wipes away the tears from her eyes.
"Oh, you see, tears help me bear my own pain and sorrow."

"Why are you crying; " asks the lizard crawling beneath the tree.
The little mouse examines the roots and pours her tears on the ground.
"Oh, tears are my jewels to help me overcome the tests of time."