There were bellows
fastened by shipyard rope
controlled by a foot pedal
The fire was writhing . blazing
Held by tongs
a rail of iron
glowed red
made pliant for the anvil
Hammered into a horseshoe
then dropped in a bucket of water
It sizzled and steamed
And the horses
were hitched to a length of timber
tossing their manes
In the grass by the river
were plowshare and harrows
awaiting repair
Waves of heat
broke over my face
at the entrance
at my back
were white clouds and rain.
Czelaw Milosz (1911-2004)
Translated by Henry Kanabus
