VESSEL

He left this to no prentice hand  

The Master toiled, day upon day

Himself. Ages ago he planned

This vessel. See the splendid way

The light reflects   that's since the ore

Was purified by Him. He used

Purification none before

Could have applied to it. He mused

On how the metal worked and beat,

Harshly, we thought, the basic form;

We wondered, seeing it complete,

Already structured to conform

To what was in his mind. But next

He tapped a gentler quicker rate

Till no one else saw how his text

Varied from it. But, consummate

In craftsmanship, unsatisfied,

He saw an imperfection here

Or there and deftly reapplied

His hammer. He would persevere

For hours. Till after beating one

Last perfect stroke he gave a deep

Contented sigh   "The work is done:

This is a vessel I will keep."