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This is an ekphrastic poem inspired by the photograph pictured here. Photo by Rich Beaubien.

lyrics

Steel

Before the fire, it
had no name
No shape, memory
or purpose
Its only blood
was Possibility

With the forge
came structure
Limitless prospect
etched into
5x2.3 centimeters
Intent's determined face
stamped into being

Still, without label
these could have been
windchimes
castenets
26 bead rosaries, with
a mirror at its end to reflect
the true face of God

But then
the letters are struck
and Identity is given
indelible and unfortunate
They now will carry name,
rank, blood type
They will be worrying stone
albatross
prayer clutch
wistful souvenir
the last CLICK CLACK
before shut eyes
and a walking tombstone
the only way to know
that your child had come back
at all

Only when steel
goes back to ground
does it remember its Possibility
and weep for the fire that would
bring it back

credits

from New Home​/​All Home, released December 26, 2011
Words and Music by Paulie Lipman. Photo by Rich Beaubien.

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all rights reserved

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Paulie Lipman Denver, Colorado

Paulie Lipman has been a part of 8 Denver National Slam Teams(including '04's second place and '06's national champions). His work has appeared in The Legendary, Borderline, and the Write Bloody anthology: The Good Things About America.

In addition to Spoken Word, Pauile is also a musician/composer and is available for hire for commercial/video game/soundtrack work.
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