STEEL

1. The Steel rings with my flesh.
As a warrior I sing terrifying chants
And I clink, greedy,
With fingers I uproot myself singing.

The still Steel has grown into my heart.
Golden poison alters the blood.
I catch it as it surrounds me quietly
And the forehead of golden steel
Cuts into my eyes.
It is my sword and sun –
How can I smite it?
So I die wisely
And the Steel, furious,
Falls apart at dawn.
And this is my revenge:
Upon the wintry merry grave
A new flesh assembles.


2. We growl with the Steel
Forehead to forehead:
It wants to be my Head.
I rattle with my teeth,
It rattles with my weapons.

I forged a precious armoire for the Steel,
For the one that now wants to be my golden king.
It strikes me and pinches,
But each gentle sound startles it.
Through the clatter of its teeth I live.
Stubborn, it tosses and turns underground.

There is no escape from power,
But war cannot hold the bones together.