I am eaten without need of plant, nor plow. The product of a worker’s brow. I am left when tears are dry. Born from water, when I meet it, I die.

I am made of tin or steel, I hold the soup for your evening meal. I'm a word for able and allowed to do But when I am empty, you throw me through.

I came before books, I came before knives. My possessions are easy to find. If you need me, find me at pool’s edge.

Take me, hit me, walk all over me Hard and long; I make you rage I'll take you anywhere or nowhere at all A start and an end, and also what lies between The poet's muse, the transient's anthem, a young man's dream Answer my call, or don't I'll go on

For some I wear thin They get angry when I fade Some say I’m a virtue Few have me in spades What am I?