I shut the door to face the naked truth;
I stood alone:- I faced the truth alone,,
Stripped bare of self-regard or forms or ruth,
Till first and last were shown....
I took the perfect balances and I weighed
No shaking of my hand disturbed the poise;
Weighed, found it wanting, not a word I said,
But Silent made my choice
None knew the choice I made, I make it still..
None knew the choice I made and broke my heart
Breaking mine idol. I have braced my will
Once, chosen for once, my part
I broke it at a blow, I laid it cold
Crushed in my deep heart where it used to live
My heart dies inch by inch;
The time grows old
Grows old in which I grieve
-By Christina Rosetti, 1850
