Poetry Day - One heedless day

Here is another Christina Rossetti poem. I've posted it here way back in 2007, but I thought it could come around again. It's a poem that moves through the process of what to do with the shame and heart-break of an unrequited declaration. (I do like that it picks up the notion that "trials", in whatever form they come, exist to refine us and to make us more like, and drive us to, Christ.)

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