Iron, While the Strike is Hot

"Iron, While the Strike is Hot" © Ron Villejo

In "A Poet's Reversals," I take common phrases in English, and play at turning them around and writing poetry on the new phrasings.  Why do so, you may ask.  For the fun of it.  For the poetic license.  

The original - strike, while the iron is hot - comes from the following:

This old proverb clearly alludes to the imagery of the blacksmith or farrier at his forge. If he delays in shaping the iron when it is hot a pliable the metal soon cools and hardens and the opportunity is lost.

The expression is recorded in Richard Edwards', The excellent comedie of two the moste faithfullest freendes, Damon and Pithias, circa 1566:

I haue plied the Haruest, and stroke when the Yron was hotte.