At first, the speaker seems to be counting all the things she finds lovely in the world: rain-washed flowers, patterns on the sea, crocuses pushing through snow, moonlight, azaleas, honeysuckle at night. She also treasures certain sounds—wind singing in trees, crickets, and the sound of Black voices humming old melodies. The list creates a gentle, appreciative mood, full of quiet wonder and sensory richness. But the final couplet shifts inward. All those beautiful sights and sounds, dear as they are, mean less to her than the sudden tears in the eyes of someone she loves. That emotional closeness outranks every outward beauty. The poem feels tender and intimate, as if the speaker is speaking softly to a beloved, admitting that human feeling is the most precious thing of all.
Sonnet--2 — Summary
Some things are very dear to me-- Such things as flowers bathed by rain Or patterns traced upon the sea Or crocuses where snow has lain ... The iridescence of a gem, The moon’s cool opalescent light, Azaleas and the scent of them, And honeysuckles in the night. And many sounds are also dear-- Like winds that sing among the trees Or crickets calling from the weir Or Negroes humming melodies. But dearer far than all surmise Are sudden tear-drops in your eyes.