This blade once burnished, undefiled, <br />flashed in pine like a mirror, <br />whittling figures with dabbling zeal <br />and honest error. <br /> <br />Look at it now: nicked and stained <br />from hacking coin. No supple wood <br />mottled it with this mortal rust, <br />this mettle's blood.<br /><br />William F Dougherty<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/steel-with-stigmas/
