Like a forge, I take the beating.

Bend and batter.

Stretch the leather.

The pliers grind and groan.

Molten metal.

Glowing nails.

The strike of the razor.

The strike of the match.

The satin sizzles.

Sparks fly.

The waft of sulfur when I snuff the flame.

The scent of submission.

Sliced, cinched, scorched, and cracked, ugly and broken.

Battled and axed.

Trial by fire.

Shod at last.


                                                                  
CLOTILDE SEVERIN was a high school senior attending UAA through Alaska Middle College School. Clotilde Severin grew up in Anchorage, Alaska where she learned to love reading, writing, and dancing. Next year she will attend New York University's Tisch School of the Arts as a Dramatic Writing major.