In My Opinion

In my opinion,
the one thing worth doing with gold
is to hit it hard with a hammer.
turn it like a wheel
on a stake made of steel
till the sound of the tool rises
higher and higher.
Then light a blowpipe with fire
and blow like the devil
until all of it glows cherry red, cherry ripe,
and the surface runs molten
then floods like a river
that shimmers, aquiver
with textures that shiver
unplanned, but controlled by the flame,
shining like quicksilver.
Which when plunged under water,
can be heard growing cold
with a hiss like the kiss of a viper,
while steam explodes briefly
like smoke in a dream.
Pickled in acid,
the gleam of raw metal's
as yellow as butter
and soft as the petals
of roses at dawn
untroubled by reflection.