Poem: "The Swordsmith's Secret"

[ysabetwordsmith]

Here is the April 7, 2009 Poetry Fishbowl poem selected for the generally sponsored poetry fund, by far the most popular in the poll. "The Swordsmith's Secret" was inspired by a prompt from wyld_dandelyon and this month's donors are ellenmillion, minor_architect, mtrose2, dulcinbradbury.

The Swordsmith’s Secret

Everyone knows that it takes
the finest steel to make a mindful sword,
water-clear gems to set in the pommel and quillions,
rare woods to build the hilt,
gold and silver and platinum for inlays.
The sword is only the body
for the spirit shaped within it,
brought to life by magic and
sustained by precious metals and gems.

Only the swordsmith knows
that the spirit lives in the steel
before it is finished - before it even begins -
sleeping until awakened with the fire’s first kiss.

Only the swordsmith knows
how the sword screams when it’s heated,
weeps when it’s beaten,
cries when it’s quenched.

Only the swordsmith, and I,
the priestess of the bees
who brings the soft golden wax
for the swordsmith to stub into his ears
every morning so he can stand to work.