Lacrimae Rerum meaning ‘tears of things’ is a piece born from deep sorrow, and takes inspiration from a passage of Book I of the Aeneid by the Roman poet Virgil (70-19BC), where the Trojan warrior Aeneas, worn down by war and much travel, has wandered into a Carthaginian temple dedicated to the goddess Juno. Here he gazes upon murals depicting the battles of the Trojan War and the deaths of his friends and compatriots. Upon witnessing these devastating sights anew, Aeneas is moved to tears and utters the words:

Sunt hic etiam sua praemia laudi;

Here, too, the praiseworthy has its rewards;

sunt lacrimae rerum et mentem mortalia tangunt.

there are tears for things and mortal things touch the mind.

Solve metus; feret haec aliquam tibi fama salutem.

Release your fear; this fame will bring you some safety.

Written for advanced pedal harp in January 2026 and just under 7 minutes’ duration, this piece is dedicated to the memory of Florence Elizabeth Jaguers-Eve.