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.
Christina Rossetti (1830-94)
