The Strength Of A Man Poem by Mark Heathcote

As the steel is hammered, it sparks
lowers a whirling Catherine wheel
like a man's blood ignited, hotly sobs,
it expands and doubles as it anneals.

Harder and tougher: than granite-rock
internal stresses are unresolved
frequently a door has been left a chock
like a neat bottle of the best scotch;

I enter the valley of her land
but, when I kneeled to be crowned
the foot of her bedpost at her command
my energy, my strength is icebound.

no longer her prince but a pauper
I lower my guard; internal shield,
entre oblivion, her adorer
entre flames softening as cottonseed.