The hammer and the rusting nail br Lay on the shelf within the shed, br They did not speak or even glance br Each day to them a strain, br The hammer knew he had the strength br To bend and break the rusting nail br Or drive it firmly into wood br To not be seen again. br br The rusting nail for small in size br Was sure he was no match for him, br And lived in fear that one day soon br That he would meet his end, br He prayed that day would not arrive br And would be left to live in peace, br To look out of the window there br And one day be his friend. br br The hammer longed for him to go br And wanted all the wooden shelf, br To call his own and not to share br Yet all he tried did fail, br Each day he left and did return br And after toiling many hours, br Was placed upon the same old spot br Beside the rusting nail. br br One day a man did take the nail br From off the shelf where it had lain, br So many years there undisturbed br And held it to the wall, br He drove it hard into the frame br Beside the window in the shed, br And hung the hammer on it then br So that it would not fall.