Twice by Christina Georgina Rossetti

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 scann'd,

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 I heard:But I have not often smiled

Since then, nor question'd since,

Nor cared for cornflowers 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 contemn'd of a man,

This marr'd 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.