The hammer and the rusting nail <br />Lay on the shelf within the shed, <br />They did not speak or even glance <br />Each day to them a strain, <br />The hammer knew he had the strength <br />To bend and break the rusting nail <br />Or drive it firmly into wood <br />To not be seen again. <br /> <br />The rusting nail for small in size <br />Was sure he was no match for him, <br />And lived in fear that one day soon <br />That he would meet his end, <br />He prayed that day would not arrive <br />And would be left to live in peace, <br />To look out of the window there <br />And one day be his friend. <br /> <br />The hammer longed for him to go <br />And wanted all the wooden shelf, <br />To call his own and not to share <br />Yet all he tried did fail, <br />Each day he left and did return <br />And after toiling many hours, <br />Was placed upon the same old spot <br />Beside the rusting nail. <br /> <br />One day a man did take the nail <br />From off the shelf where it had lain, <br />So many years there undisturbed <br />And held it to the wall, <br />He drove it hard into the frame <br />Beside the window in the shed, <br />And hung the hammer on it then <br />So that it would not fall. <br /> <br />From that day on in harmony <br />The hammer and the rusting nail, <br />Lived side by side and made a vow <br />Of friendship strong and true, <br />The hammer knew without the nail <br />That he would fall down to the ground, <br />The nail free to live in peace <br />To gaze upon the view<br /><br />ANDREW BLAKEMORE<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-hammer-and-the-rusting-nail/
