The forger of Katana swords

Had reached the age of eighty,

And had not lost a hairbreadth

Of his rare today craftsmanship.

When asked if he had any method

That made him so, the master said,

"Your humble servant has always

Kept to his work. . . At twenty

I was fond of forging swords

To have it as my trade for 60 years.

"I looked at nothing else; I paid

No attention to anything but swords.

That was the subject of my life passion.

By my constant practice of it, I came

To be able to do the work until I had

Any thought of what I was doing.

"By length of time one acquires

Ability at any art -- how much more

One who is ever at work on it!

What is there which does not depend

On this and succeed by it?!

This is the question I ask myself

After my 60 years of being in. . ."