Iron

it's industrial
it's in the blood
my deficiency shows

iron woman's the iron maiden
to my eye
my open eye

(yes, like Margaret's fish hook)

it's the stuff of ships and shackles
of pregnancies fortified
red meat, dark greens
stew pots and frying pans

she's tough as nails
hobnails and thumbnails
she's driven, like nine-inch nails into teak
she's driving with muscular thumbs

she's all thumbs and nails really
(I like to think)

my deficiency shows

I'll sleep.
when I'm done.
spitting nails.