10.01.21 The Rest Is Herstory.

Mettle is a malleable master:
unyielding unless molten
while molten untouchable
too hot for human hands
til tempered—
it is both sword and shield
and neither.
Musical. Magical.
With it we fashion tools;
keys, rings, crowbars,
calves and coins.
With it we ameliorate bars;
cages, shackles, chains.