Date: Sat May 29 21:58:44 2004
From: Sethlans
Subject: The Blacksmith

I remember clear that fine morning,
as spring sunlite splashed through my door.
Happily working at forge I was,
humming a tune to the ringing beat of hammer.

Until that time the love of my life
was charcoal, iron and steel.
Not blessed of countenance fair but
instead wide in girth and strong of sinew,
the life of a smithee I had chosen.

My eyes blazed at the heat of fire,
snorting and hissing from bellows-forced air.
My heart pounded as showers of sparks flew
from angry steel, made submissive by forge,
now trapped between immovable anvil
and irresistable hammer, forced by my hand
into a new form not of it's chosing.

When not busy, repairing a hoe or mending a plow,
beautiful, fanciful artifacts would I wrought
from bits of metal thought by some useless and discarded.
It was that morn,summoned by your man-at-arms,
I shuffled outside away from tong and smoke.
A fair maid from the castle, daughter of a visiting Duke,
out riding in the morning's crisp clean air,
forced to stop in my small village,by her mount's thrown shoe.

On lame mare you sat, a vision so lovely
and radiant that for me the morning sun was paled.
As you decended from the roan, a glimpse of bare leg
above supple brown riding boot, took my breath.
Soft, slender hands gripped the reins as you gently
guided the limping horse over for my inspection,
your soft brown eyes moist with concern
for the beast given to you as a child.

You asked if I could please help, did I have the skill,
and with a gentle hand you touched my shoulder.
No red-hot ember could have burned so great,
I stammered as I replied the task would be short.
I returned to my shack to collect the tools
of my trade and my finest forged steel shoe.

No finer or swifter job have I ever done
and shortly the beast was good as new.
As you pressed the coin into my rough, callused
hand a small squeeze you gave with your thanks.
Then up on your horse you lightly bounded,
and with your escort, and my heart,
you rode away quickly fading from view.

• The Blacksmith by Sethlans on Sat May 29 21:58:44 2004