"poetry of a welder's torch"

[scramaseax]

ack, ack to much Oxy-acetelyne, now to the point, or points!

This is very hard to describe but, hear it goes.

Hast thou braved the heat that turns iron into steel?
Hast thou seen steel turn to cherry red?
Hast thou gained the marks of sparks?
Hast thou carbonized thy fire brick?
Hast thou witnessed steel turn to liquid?
Hast thou quenched it in water?

Three things that renew, a mother's womb, a water-fall, and  a smith's fire

[al Hartman]

I must confess, I am as poor at interpreting poetry (except my own) as I am at interpreting irony (except my own.

Your piece is quite striking, but what does it mean?

In fact, what does your name mean?

al

[scramaseax]

Scramaseax, is an old gremanic word for long knife, but the smaller ones where used as craving, and engraving of metal, stone or wood.

The poem is about my own assembly experiance, I had been taking welding at a local community college. So, I used what I had learned in their to write my poem. I have been studying to much, and that poem was a retorical questions. I understand, we both only understand "our" poetry, maybe use natare as a source of insperation? 

[al Hartman]

Little Long Knife,

One of my kids was a welder for a few years, so that was what I read into the poem.  I just didn't see what its application was toward this board...

Now I get it.  Thanks.

In Christ,
al