Hammer
Falls
Drawn hot from the coals
malleable under the blow,
bent straight
while holding a visible glow
Hammer falls
Burning in oxygen's flow,
but not too fast, to sear the surface
forming impenetrable layers,
rather, just enough to soften to the touch
Hammer falls
Sparks spray under the impact
welding with each strike
two rods wrought
becoming one forged art
Hammer falls
Energy melts metal to metal
Iron binding hard
heat echo's
left by the pounding beat of the smith
Silence falls
Two heads tip gently, forehead to forehead
forming indivisible bonds
heat rises and swirls
anticipating the impending release
of sparks flying free
© Dave Lawson, 2004