grindstone (Chris Talbot)‘The Grindstone’: A Poem by Michael Pietrack The Society February 2, 2025 Beauty, Poetry 18 Comments . The Grindstone The grindstone spun as fiery sparks were sprayed,for even iron broke against his force,and by his edge the blunt became the bladea king would hold upon his charging horse. The stone was proud to be of use to kings,for by his work the grindstone was defined,and loved the hum that rock on metal sings.Above all else, the grindstone loved the grind. The water on the wheel was showered praisefrom sweaty blacksmiths blessed to man the pedal,who found no equal zeal in all their days,and so they fed him steady meals of metal. Although his grit could sharpen swords of steel,there was a force still stronger than the stone,and to this power all the greats must kneel—the wear of time that grinds both rock and bone. The decades spent in shaping pointed spearsmade edges dull and grit became effaced;he failed to fettle even pruning shears,and so, he was retired and replaced. The grindstone that had fashioned kingly swordsbecame an ornamental flower pot;for time eroded all he labored for,and all he gave and made the kings forgot. But he remembered sparks and heard the humupon his mighty edges made to sharpen,before those memories grew black and numb.Now all that’s left—a stone amid the garden. . . Michael Pietrack is a poet from western Colorado, USA. He is the author of the first epic fable, “Legacy: The Saga Begins,” a novel in verse. He holds a Master’s Degree in Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and Theatre. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. 18 Responses James Sale February 2, 2025 Very enjoyable poem and I particularly liked the line: “Above all else, the grindstone loved the grind.” Most of us don’t, but I guess the grindstone must! Reply Michael Pietrack February 6, 2025 Thank you, James. I realy love this poem. It’s sad that the majority of what we toil for daily will be forgotten in the end—when the grindstone is just a gravestone. Reply Paul A. Freeman February 2, 2025 The obsolescence of age – an age-old story in itself. Nicely told, Michael. Reply Michael Pietrack February 6, 2025 Thank you, Paul. I enjoy your writing too. Reply Mark Stellinga February 2, 2025 Great job, Michael. Being a really old dude, seeing ancient, obsolete items from the past often spawns a welcome memory for me, too, and Evan found you a dandy image. 🙂 Reply Michael Pietrack February 6, 2025 Father Time is undefeated, and even the toughest dudes get ground down. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson February 2, 2025 The images in your grindstone poem made me reflect back to my days on the farm when we had one back in the 1950’s. I particularly like how you brought it to life with your excellent anthropomorphic words that depicted sharp memories we all have of our past along with the hard work and dedication we once had now deteriorating as we age. Outstanding work. Reply Michael Pietrack February 6, 2025 Thank you, Roy. It’s meaningful to me that you enjoyed it. Reply Pamela Ruggiero February 2, 2025 Hi Michael You taught me something in this poem. I did not know it was kosher to mix masculine and feminine endings within the same poem because it seems like it throws the meter off. You are an established poet so now I know it’s OK I like this poem. It was very descriptive of the grindstone. Not being a blacksmith and being ignorant to physical labor.(haha), I did not know the history nor do I know what it was replaced by. I liked the flow of this poem and the very descriptive imagery within Reply Michael Pietrack February 6, 2025 Don’t use me as a benchmark of what is right or wrong, good or bad. I’m still learning and unfamiliar of many written and unwritten rules. Reply Joseph S. Salemi February 2, 2025 I love the use of “to fettle” in the fifth quatrain. It means to finish the surface of something by polishing or abrading. Reply Michael Pietrack February 6, 2025 Thank you. I try to avoid the use of words that others will have to look up. I favor common speech, which can make my work seem less sophisticated, at times. But “failed to fettle” just sounded so good, I couldn’t resist! Reply Yael February 2, 2025 This is fun and interesting; even though I have used them all my life and I own several nice ones, it would have never occurred to me to anthropomorphize a grindstone. I also love that “Above all else, the grindstone loved the grind.” I’ll remember that the next time I get my slow-turning, big white Arkansas stone wet for some blade grinding. Reply Michael Pietrack February 6, 2025 At times I feel like a grindstone, worn down, but every day I get back up and grind again. Reply Cynthia Erlandson February 3, 2025 I love it, Michael, especially your tender and poignant description of the end of the grindstone’s life. Also, “the steady meals of metal.” Reply Michael Pietrack February 6, 2025 Thank you, I love that line too. It’s the nerdiest thing, but when I selected “steady” and put it next to “meals,” I was giddy over the double “ea”. Reply Margaret Coats February 4, 2025 “Made to sharpen,” but ground to grit by time. A fabulous poem of personification, Michael, with sharp economy of word and line. You’ve easily called your commentors to reflect on aging, and on the failure of others’ remembrance to value their past deeds. I like the little memories you allow the grindstone himself: sparks, and the hum of motion he seems still to feel at his edges. The piece is lighthearted enough to let him end his useful life as a garden ornament, which is a good means of conclusion–though a sad one to persons thinking of themselves. Good management of message and tone! Reply Michael Pietrack February 6, 2025 It’s such a joy to be understood. I love your work, so this praise carries double weight. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
James Sale February 2, 2025 Very enjoyable poem and I particularly liked the line: “Above all else, the grindstone loved the grind.” Most of us don’t, but I guess the grindstone must! Reply
Michael Pietrack February 6, 2025 Thank you, James. I realy love this poem. It’s sad that the majority of what we toil for daily will be forgotten in the end—when the grindstone is just a gravestone. Reply
Paul A. Freeman February 2, 2025 The obsolescence of age – an age-old story in itself. Nicely told, Michael. Reply
Mark Stellinga February 2, 2025 Great job, Michael. Being a really old dude, seeing ancient, obsolete items from the past often spawns a welcome memory for me, too, and Evan found you a dandy image. 🙂 Reply
Michael Pietrack February 6, 2025 Father Time is undefeated, and even the toughest dudes get ground down. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson February 2, 2025 The images in your grindstone poem made me reflect back to my days on the farm when we had one back in the 1950’s. I particularly like how you brought it to life with your excellent anthropomorphic words that depicted sharp memories we all have of our past along with the hard work and dedication we once had now deteriorating as we age. Outstanding work. Reply
Pamela Ruggiero February 2, 2025 Hi Michael You taught me something in this poem. I did not know it was kosher to mix masculine and feminine endings within the same poem because it seems like it throws the meter off. You are an established poet so now I know it’s OK I like this poem. It was very descriptive of the grindstone. Not being a blacksmith and being ignorant to physical labor.(haha), I did not know the history nor do I know what it was replaced by. I liked the flow of this poem and the very descriptive imagery within Reply
Michael Pietrack February 6, 2025 Don’t use me as a benchmark of what is right or wrong, good or bad. I’m still learning and unfamiliar of many written and unwritten rules. Reply
Joseph S. Salemi February 2, 2025 I love the use of “to fettle” in the fifth quatrain. It means to finish the surface of something by polishing or abrading. Reply
Michael Pietrack February 6, 2025 Thank you. I try to avoid the use of words that others will have to look up. I favor common speech, which can make my work seem less sophisticated, at times. But “failed to fettle” just sounded so good, I couldn’t resist! Reply
Yael February 2, 2025 This is fun and interesting; even though I have used them all my life and I own several nice ones, it would have never occurred to me to anthropomorphize a grindstone. I also love that “Above all else, the grindstone loved the grind.” I’ll remember that the next time I get my slow-turning, big white Arkansas stone wet for some blade grinding. Reply
Michael Pietrack February 6, 2025 At times I feel like a grindstone, worn down, but every day I get back up and grind again. Reply
Cynthia Erlandson February 3, 2025 I love it, Michael, especially your tender and poignant description of the end of the grindstone’s life. Also, “the steady meals of metal.” Reply
Michael Pietrack February 6, 2025 Thank you, I love that line too. It’s the nerdiest thing, but when I selected “steady” and put it next to “meals,” I was giddy over the double “ea”. Reply
Margaret Coats February 4, 2025 “Made to sharpen,” but ground to grit by time. A fabulous poem of personification, Michael, with sharp economy of word and line. You’ve easily called your commentors to reflect on aging, and on the failure of others’ remembrance to value their past deeds. I like the little memories you allow the grindstone himself: sparks, and the hum of motion he seems still to feel at his edges. The piece is lighthearted enough to let him end his useful life as a garden ornament, which is a good means of conclusion–though a sad one to persons thinking of themselves. Good management of message and tone! Reply
Michael Pietrack February 6, 2025 It’s such a joy to be understood. I love your work, so this praise carries double weight. Reply