Quotes and Poems by Christina Rossetti

Does the road wind uphill all the way?

Yes, to the very end.

Will the day's journey take the whole day?

From morn to night, my friend.

Can anything be sadder than work left unfinished? Yes, work never begun.

It is not the deed we do Though the deed be never so fair, But the love that the dear Lord looketh for, Hidden with lovely care In the heart of the deed so fair.

Spring is when life's alive in everything.

Remember me when I am gone away, Gone far away into the silent land; When you can no more hold me by the hand, Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay. Remember me when no more day by day You tell me of our future that you planned: Only remember me; you understand It will be late to counsel then or pray. Yet if you should forget me for a while And afterward remember, do not grieve: For if the darkness and corruption leave A vestige of the thoughts that once I had, Better by far you should forget and smile Than that you should remember and be sad.

My life is like a faded leaf,

My harvest dwindled to a husk:

Truly my life is void and brief

And tedious in the barren dusk;

My life is like a frozen thing,

No bud nor greenness can I see:

Yet rise it shall - the sap of Spring;

O Jesus, rise in me.

Open wide the windows of our spirits and fill us full of light; open wide the door of our hearts, that we may receive and entertain Thee with all our powers of adoration.

My heart is like a singing bird.

What are heavy? sea-sand and sorrow. What are brief? today and tomorrow. What are frail? spring blossoms and youth. What are deep? the ocean and truth.

What is the beginning? Love. What is the course. Love still. What the goal. The goal is love.

I have no wit, no words, no tears;

My heart within me like a stone

Is numb'd too much for hopes or fears;

Look right, look left, I dwell alone;

I lift mine eyes, but dimm'd with grief

No everlasting hills I see;

My life is in the falling leaf:

O Jesus, quicken me.

Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine.

Flowers preach to us if we will hear.

I wonder if the sap is stirring yet,

If wintry birds are dreaming of a mate,

If frozen snowdrops feel as yet the sun

And crocus fires are kindling one by one:

Sing robin, sing:

I still am sore in doubt concerning Spring.

Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine; Love was born at Christmas; Star and angels gave the sign.

Silence is more musical than any song.

Choose love not in the shallows but in the deep.

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd

I would bring a lamb.

If I were a Wise Man

I would do my part.

Yet what can I give Him?

I give Him my heart.

O passing angel, speed me with a song, a melody of heaven to reach my heart and rouse me to the race and make me strong.

Love loves for ever,

And finds a sort of joy in pain,

And gives with nought to take again,

And loves too well to end in vain:

Is the gain small then?

Love laughs at "never",

Outlives our life, exceeds the span

Appointed to mere mortal man:

All which love is and does and can

Is all in all then.

And may you happy live, And long us bless.

I might show facts as plain as day: but, since your eyes are blind, you'd say, 'Where? What?' and turn away.

Tread softly! All the earth is holy ground.

My heart is breaking for a little love

Hurt no living thing: Ladybird, nor butterfly, Nor moth with dusty wing.

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