The present invention is directed to crystalline copolymers of l-lactide and a minor portion of a cyclic monomer, preferably -caprolactone or trimethylene carbonate or both. The present copolymers have a melting temperature of at least 150 C. and a crystallinity of at least 20%. Preferred are high molecular weight copolymers having an inherent viscosity of at least 1.1 dl/g. A variety of surgical constructs may be formed from the present copolymers. Disclosed are coated surgical constructs including sutures made of multifilament yarns of the present copolymers and coated with nitrogenous copolyesters which will bioabsorb in less than three years and will maintain at least 50% of their initial strength three weeks post-operatively.