Things men have made

Things men have made with wakened hands, and put soft life into
are awake through years with transferred touch, and go on glowing
for long years.

And for this reason, some old things are lovely,
warm still with the life of forgotten men who made them.

Things made by Iron

Things made by iron and handled by steel
are born dead, they are shrouds, they soak life out of us.

Til after a long time, they are old and have steeped in our life,
they begin to be soothed and are soothing; then we throw them away.

both by D.H. Lawrence