Men wear their pride as an armor, Heavy and clanking and bright, I too have pride for my armor But I wear it hidden from sight. The ancient kings wore shirts of mail, Of small links forged with such a care That under the ermine and under the purple None knew that it was there. Though the flesh was bruised till the blood dripped warm, Only the king alone Knew that the blade against his breast Would never pierce the bone. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE EMPEROR OF ICE-CREAM by WALLACE STEVENS INSPIRATION (2) by HENRY DAVID THOREAU IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH FOUR SONNETS: 3 by FRANK DAVIS ASHBURN THE NEW CRUSADE by KATHARINE LEE BATES JEFFERSON DAVIS by WALKER MERIWETHER BELL ON THE TRAIN by RUTH NOEL BENNETT |