And every earthly woe and every earthly tear is a joy for us; and when you water the earth with your tears a foot deep, you will rejoice at everything at once, and your sorrow will be no more, such is the prophecy.' That word sank into my heart at the time.

Since then when I bow down to the ground at my prayers, I've taken to kissing the earth.

I kiss it and weep.

And let me tell you, Shatushka, there's no harm in those tears; and even if one has no grief, one's tears flow from joy.

The tears flow of themselves, that's the truth.