strike with the hammer
the blunt edge flattening
the steel still hot
still molten
but cooling by the second
only the falling strike
of the hammer
can temper the metal
forcing atoms to align
preparing the steel
to hold an edge
men in labs
can create blades
with ceramics
no thicker than a hair
but their sweat
never mixes in with the steel
is never drunk up by the thirsty metal
and their muscles will not strain
their veins never bulge
with the falling of the hammer
