Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/997

 CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI

And dreaming through the twilight That doth not rise nor set,

Haply I may remember, And haply may forget.

792 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 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.

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