Beautiful Excitement

Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears.

Edgar Allan Poe

Today’s random tidbit to accompany this quote is about our tears, which are more complex than just salty droplets that leak out our eyes during an ugly cry. Have you ever wondered about the “Chemical Composition of a Teardrop ”? Well now is your lucky day. This short article from Science Notes describes the different types of tears and their chemical composition. Regarding weeping tears, such as those I wept as a child when I watched the “Red Balloon ” (YouTube link), those aren’t just water and salt and “contain the protein-based hormones prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and Leu-enkephalin. Leu-enkephalin acts as a natural painkiller.” Neat!

About the author

Edgar Allan Poe ( January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the United States, and of American literature. He was one of the country’s earliest practitioners of the short story, and is considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre, as well as a significant contributor to the emerging genre of science fiction. He is the first well-known American writer to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.