I look behind and I see a trail of slag

Impurities

Pieces of my former self

The hammer falls

One more rep

One more round

One more mile

The hammer stops and I am quenched

I rest

But it's not enough

Once more into the forge

Into the flames

Folded and refolded

I feel my strength growing

I see my brethren ahead of me

Sharp and deadly

I see what I can become

What I will become