The Forgers

IN the smithy it began:

Let's make something for a man!

Hear the bellows belch and roar,

Splashing light on roof and floor:

From their nest the feathery

Fly like little golden larks:

Hear each forger's taunting yell,

Tell–tell–tell–tell–Tell us what we make, my master!

Hear the tenor hammers sound,

Ring-a-round, ring-a-round;

Hear the treble hammers sing,

Ding-a-ring, ding-a-ring;

Hear the forger's taunting yell,

Tell–tell–tell–tell!

Though the guess be right or

You must wear it all life long!

How it glows as it grows,

Ding-a-ring-a-derry-down,

Into something–is't a crown?

Hear them half in death with laughter,

Shaking soot from roof and rafter;

Tell–tell–tell–tell–Ding-a-ring, ding-a-ring,

See them round the royal thing,

See it fade to ruby rose,

As it glows and grows,

Guess, they shout, for worse or better:

Not a crown!

Is't a fetter?

Hear them shout demonic mirth:

Here's a guesser something worth;

Make it solid, round, and fine,

Fashioned on a cunning plan,

For the riddle-reader Man;

Ho–ho–ho–ho!

Hear the bellows heave and blow:

Heat dries up their tears of mirth;

Let the marvel come to birth,

Though his guess be right or

He must wear it–all life long!

Sullen flakes of golden

Fawn about the dimming choir,

They're a dusky pack of

Shaking rubies from their sleeves,

Hear them wield their vaunting yell,

Tell–tell–tell–tell!

Forging faster–taunting faster–Guess, my master–Guess, my master!

Grows the enigmatic thing!

Ruddy joyance–Deep disaster?

Ding-a-ring, ding-a-ring,

Ding-a-ring-a-derry-down!

Is't a fetter–Is't a crown?