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 |
Classic Poems |
|
[ A Birthday ] [ A Pause of Thought ] [ Marvel of Marvels ] [ Rest ] [ Echo ] [ Twice ] [ Aloof ] [ Uphill ] [ Remember ] [ Song ] [ Somewhere or Other ] |