The poem
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 a while; 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 judgment 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 judgment 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.
Oh my gosh I love this poem. The first time I heard it was in the "Christy Miller Series" book 6 "A Heart Full of Hope." The feelings in this poem describes the some feelings Christy was going through with Todd, a nice christian boy who is the perfect guy for her. You'd have to read the book to understand which I highly recomend.*I've turned poem talk into book talk* *Oh, well.* *ha ha, hee hee, giggle giggle, wee wee!!!!!!*:)
I'm stunned that someone else remembers this poem from the Christ Miller series. I love that Robin Jones Gunn used so many of Christina Rossetti's poems. This poem is a wonderful testament to putting our hearts in the hands of Christ first before putting them in the hands of men.
I love this poem and i also heard about in the 6th Christy Miller series book. You have to read the books in order to see why the poem is in the book. The series is sooooooo cooool and it is also a christian book as well.
Well... I see I'm not the only other person who has read the Christy Miller Series to discover the poem. If you want Robin Gunn Jones analysis on the poem, just read the books! lol
Wow! SO Many Christy Miller fans! I am a huge one as well! :D And, I absolutely adore this poem.