Black Steel
by Pat G'Orge-Walker © 1999

Struggles, they attacked me
Though I had no permanent shape
They found me and when they did
I was thrust into a fire
And without my permission
I was shaped and hammered in that fire
Only to be quickly submerged in cool water
Often, certain blessings came upon me
And when I gave no thanks
Without a second thought, I was
Thrust again into the fire
Hammered and reshaped
Again, quickly submerged in cool waters
At an age where knowledge should have ruled me
Instead, I searched for more comfortable things
To use as my consequence, again into a fire
Chastised with life's repercussions and reshaped
Once more, then quickly submerged in cool waters

After repeated lessons, good and bad
After being consumed over and over in the fire
I became hard, impossible to break,
My spirit soared with invincibility
"Now I see" said my reason for being
Black Steel only comes about
After the thrusting in many fires
And the cooling off in many waters
I have arrived, I am ready for warfare
I am a supernatural weapon
I am God's Black Steel
Only to bend and to be used
by His Will