Twice - Christina Rossetti

Twice

I took my heart in my hand (O my love, O my love),

I said: Let me fall or stand, Let me live or die,

But this once hear me speak - (O my love, O my love) -

Yet a woman’s words are weak;

You should speak, not I.

You took my heart in your hand

With a friendly smile, With a critical eye you scanned,

Then set it down, And said: It is still unripe, Better wait awhile;

Wait while the skylarks pipe, Till the corn grows brown.

As you set it down it broke -

Broke, but I did not wince; I smiled at the speech you spoke,

At your judgement that I heard:

But I have not often smiled Since then, nor questioned since,

Nor cared for corn-flowers wild, Nor sung with the singing bird.

I take my heart in my hand, O my God, O my God,

My broken heart in my hand, Thou hast seen, judge thou.

My hope was written on sand, O my God, O my God:

Now let thy judgement stand - Yea, judge me now.

This contemned of a man, This marred one heedless day,

This heart take thou to scan Both within and without:

Refine with fire its gold, Purge thou its dross away -

Yea, hold it in thy hold,

Whence none can pluck it out.

I take my heart in my hand - I shall not die, but live -

Before thy face I stand; I, for thou callest such:

All that I have I bring, All that I am I give,

Smile thou and I shall sing, But shall not question much.

Christina Rossetti