Quotes from Christina Rossetti

All others are outside myself; I lock my door and bar them out The turmoil, tedium, gad-about. I lock my door upon myself, And bar them out; but who shall wall Self from myself, most loathed of all? If I could once lay down myself, And start self-purged upon the race That all must run ! Death runs apace.

I weep as I have never wept: Oh it was summer when I slept, It's winter now I waken.

Mirage" The hope I dreamed of was a dream, Was but a dream; and now I wake, Exceeding comfortless, and worn, and old, For a dream's sake. I hang my harp upon a tree, A weeping willow in a lake; I hang my silent harp there, wrung and snapped For a dream's sake. Lie still, lie still, my breaking heart; My silent heart, lie still and break: Life, and the world, and mine own self, are changed For a dream's sake.

He took me in his strong white arms, He bore me on his horse away O'er crag, morass, and hairbreadth pass, But never asked me yea or nay. He held me fast with book and bell, With links of love he makes me stay; Till now I've neither heart nor power Nor will nor wish to say him nay.

For I am bound with fleshly bands, Joy, beauty, lie beyond my scope; I strain my heart, I stretch my hands, And catch at hope.

Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I. But when the trees bow down their heads, The wind is passing by.

Oh that it were with me As with the flower; Blooming on its own tree For butterfly and bee Its summer morns: That I might bloom mine hour A rose in spite of thorns.

We must not look at goblin men

Who has seen the wind? Neither I nor you: But when the leaves hang trembling, The wind is passing through. Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I: But when the trees bow down their heads, The wind is passing by.

Beautiful, delightful, noble, memorable, as is the world, I yet am well content in my shady crevice.

Should one of us remember, And one of us forget, I wish I knew what each will do– But who can tell as yet?" Should one of us remember, And one of us forget, I promise you what I will do– And I'm content to wait for you, And not be sure as yet.

My garden-plot I have not kept; Faded and all-forsaken, I weep as I have never wept: Oh it was summer when I slept, It's winter now I waken.

My life is like a singing bird.

She kissed and kissed her with a hungry mouth.

The road to death is life, the gate of life is death,

Where there are no God, we would be in this glorious world with grateful hearts and no one to thank.

My heart is like a singing bird Whose nest is in a water'd shoot; My heart is like an apple-tree Whose boughs are bent with thick-set fruit; My heart is like a rainbow shell That paddles in a halcyon sea

Song" Two doves upon the selfsame branch, Two lilies on a single stem, Two butterflies upon one flower: Oh happy they who look on them. Who look upon them hand in hand Flushed in the rosy summer light; Who look upon them hand in hand And never give a thought to night.

If all were rain and never sun, No bow could span the hill; If all were sun and never rain There'd be no rainbow still.

The stars rise, the moon bends her arc, Each glowworm winks her spark

Rest, rest, for evermore Upon a messy shore; Rest, rest at the heart's core Till time shall cease: Sleep that no pain shall wake, Night that no morn shall break Till joy shall overtake Her perfect peace.

Christmastide - 1830-1894 Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine; Love was born at Christmas, Star and Angels gave the sign. Worship we the Godhead, Love Incarnate, Love Divine; Worship we our Jesus: But wherewith for sacred sign? Love shall be our token, Love be yours and love be mine, Love to God and all men, Love for plea and gift and sign.

MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK "The Voice of my Beloved." Once I ached for thy dear sake: Wilt thou cause Me now to ache? Once I bled for thee in pain: Wilt thou rend My Heart again? Crown of thorns and shameful tree, Bitter death I bore for thee, Bore My Cross to carry thee, And wilt thou have nought of Me?

Do you dream of me?" you said. My heart was dust that used to leap to you—