Hammer and anvil, sweat and blood.
Even the soul goes into the crafting,
nay, the birth, of a weapon.
Purpose or ornament, began with a seed.
The tiniest of thoughts,
as to what it will be when wielded.
Should it be a dagger to pierce the heaviest armor?
or a sword to cut down foes like chaff?
Arrowheads to bring down a running stag?
no, they all seem wrong.
A hammer, wielded in the hands
of a powerful dwarf.
A weapon to crush armor,
heavy and sure, never missing its mark.
Steele is heated to a cherry glow,
just shy of becoming a runny soup.
Set on the anvil and beaten into shape,
the same as the crafters soul was forged in life,
beaten into shape by a higher force.
The hammer head taken its own shape,
as it grows from lifeless mass,
to creation of war.
Runes of power etched into it,
to aid the wielder in battle.
Now, the handle.
Should it be of oak, pine or ironwood?
Pine is a softer wood,
easier to craft.
Nay, twould more likely break in battle.
Oak is darker, but more solid.
No, that is wrong as well.
Ironwood would fit this creation of dark destruction better.
Ironwood to match the soul of the warrior wielding it.
Tough as nails, and hard to break.
Just as a true warrior wont break in battle.
More runes engraved near the top of the hammer.
Now all is needed is a grip.
Something to keep it from slipping
from bloody, tired hands.
Steele wire is best, ground smooth.
No fancy gemstones, to make it look weak.
No fancy paints, to chip and fall away.
Only a simple creation.
Still a beautiful thing to behold,
sunlight glimmering from it as sparks from a forge.
A smile of contentment is seen briefly,
as the Master Smith finishes his art,
and relishes in the riddle of steele.
Author notes
Dwarf forging a warhammer
In a list
A contest entry
- Choose your weapon by Neophyte.
600 points, ended April 28, 2007, 9 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Win another Gold for a Gold! by LadyInRed55.
300 points, ended June 12, 2007, 51 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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I could feel the heat of the forge, smell the hot steel, hear the hammer coming down on the advil. Watching the mighty hammer being form, from just the soul of the dwarf crafting it.
Tis is indeed worthy of a Gold.
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A fair amount of research,and knowledge into the properties,and choices of wood,and forethought into what this weapons' purpose was...The picture of the dwarf fashioning with skill and might, and time last but not least to make a formidable weapon ...Very well written, along with the research,to accomplish this write....Imaginations come alive, back to the days of not only this weapon,but all the early weapons of early days of chivalry......Excellent son!
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Really well written..you are very talented the imagery was very well done and the words flowed so well you are a great poet and I wish you the best of luck in this contest!
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wow, this is somethingi think i may wanna join this contest, i like it, you did a great job on this by the way, it was something, keep it flowing and good luck in the contest
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Nice story of the smith making his weapon which fits with the magical theme of a dwarf and his weapon of choice (besides the axe) - the warhammer (or something else, I don't know, probably cause I don't see the weapon in the notes
its apart of my rules, no offense)
good write up, and thank you for entering
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