The poem opens with a startling image: a pearl as an oyster's answer to a tear. The comparison suggests that a pearl is what grows out of irritation or hurt, a small thing turned into something beautiful. The speaker then picks out two pearls, one to give to his wife and one to keep for himself.
The ending is where the poem turns personal. He compares the pearl he holds back to "so much in / my mind," things he never says aloud. It's a quiet, honest admission that even in a close relationship, some thoughts stay private. The tone isn't bitter or guilty, though. It feels gentle, a little wry, and thoughtful.
The short, broken lines slow the reading down, so the final phrase, "to myself," lands softly and sits there. The mood is intimate and reflective, with a hint of tenderness and a hint of secrecy side by side.