the sharpening steel
slid across blackened blade
in rhythm like rapid
even breaths
in the dark
leaving a thread
of gleaming silk
at its edge
new, polished, perfect
the only aspect
of a life detested
this had
purpose and value
making order of chaos
erasing those
imperfections too minor
for the eye to find,
work day assaults
from the sinews
of soft animal flesh
Blood, death' s smell
ever sating nostrils
and under nails
though scrubbed white
at closing time.