Skillet

Was mine-drawn,

Was pig-iron;

—Is a cast-heft

Fact.

●

Chokedamp’s in it,

Born blackdamp.

Blood-iron

Ore-stope, lode-lamps,

Turnturbulating crubble-corf and -barrows.

Trace-tastes of (blast-furnace) harrow-smelt and pour.

Holds the heat hard. Rememories flavors: no warshing.

Carks and plaques itself in layers, like a pearl.

Notes:

This is the definitive version of the poem, as it appeared in Atsuro Riley's collection Romey’s Order (2010). This version of the poem was significantly revised after its original publication in Poetry magazine.

Source: Poetry (November 2005)