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
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
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.
