The Virtue of Steel

It was in the blade that cut across the sky.
A sword that led us, despite the fear, we must die.
Beautiful and terrible, we rallied around its edge,
And without it, it was certain we’d have known only dread.

In time, it was in the hammer swung all day long,
A tool was guiding exhaustion for even the strong.
We had no choice; it was our way,
And without it, our families would surely have paid.

But now it is lost to the machine that works without us,
And with each revolution, we lose a piece of our soul.
We’ve constructed our future, and for most, it looks right.
But for the wisest among us, this loss is a fright.

For you see, it is hidden in our tools when made true.
It is a reflection of ourselves as we work our way through.
But if we’re not careful and continue with this deal,
We are sure to lose it, to lose the virtue of steel.

Copywrite November 27, 2021, The Autumn Tree Publication, https://autumntree.medium.com/the-virtue-of-steel-8b5474704263