The Fire Within

Chaperoned by a layer of paint, the iron was kept pure. Its burning ambition was thwarted by being kept starved of oxygen.

Until one day, the coating became damaged and oxygen rushed in; but lacking experience, the iron was too shy or too polite to start a relationship immediately. Then, urged on by an on-shore wind, some salt spay entered the wound and formally introduced the oxygen to the iron. They became consumed in heated passion. They burned with rust for each other as their eruptions blistered the paintwork.