Iron Vantage

Stepped past the front door draft seal onto the porch slab. Cool air outside. Six strides brought me to the antique cast-iron boot scraper anchored into the masonry. Dense metal. Heavy black enamel worn silver along the blade. Symmetrical spiral scrollwork curled along both uprights. Pure decorative relief. I locked my grip onto the outer iron curl and hauled upward. Firm footing secured on the narrow horizontal edge. Elevation: twelve inches above the flags. Direct line of sight down the walkway to the street gate. Silent perimeter. Post secured.