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Question: Summary or analysis of a poem!?
I need a summary/analysis of the important ideas or themes of the poem Twice by Christina Rossetti!.

also, if possible, but not as important as above, a discussion of it in 2 of these perspectives: Historical Criticism, Psychological Crit, Deconstruction, Feminist, or Reader response would be great!.

here is 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!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
"Twice" is spoken by a courageous woman who, with some reluctance, has made overtures to the man she loves!. Her lover's response has shattered her faith in the value of erotic love!. "Till the corn grows brown" - She cannot, however, wait till harvest time!. Indeed, this experience has altogether destroyed her capacity to pursue earthly passion!. Her lover "set [her heart] down" and "it broke!." "Twice" operates at a level of cultural criticism!. The attack implicit in its four brief stanzas is upon the powerlessness of women in a rigid patriarchal society!. The man's words are spoken with absolute and final authority!. Along with the sanctions of love in approved social forms and contexts, the speaker here indignantly and impatiently renounces the natural world, and, now penitent for her presumptuous erotic quest, she approaches God!. She thus acknowledges the uncertainty of eros, but also, aware that her quest for earthly love was misguided, she acknowledges her need to be chastened and "purged" in order to become worthy of Gods superior love!. ?Www@QuestionHome@Com