Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, INVULNERABLE, by WILLIAM ROSE BENET


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

INVULNERABLE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Armorers met me at the marge of life
Last Line: And e'en the terrors turn away their eyes!
Subject(s): Innocence


Armorers met me at the marge of life,
Weapon-bearers, calling each his ware, --
How this shining sword, that sinuous knife,
Fashioned for the strife
In the forest depths that lay before,
Would ward off malice or could pierce despair,
Or this shield affright
All the hissing snakes in envy's hair,
Or, when temptation's sudden arrow sped,
How this buckler of stern proof and bright
Glanced the shaft, the tempter overbore;
Or this helm securely vizarded
Turned the thrusts of mockery and spite.

Loudly "Arm you! Arm you!" rose their cry;
And I chose a shield, indifference,
And a blade, sharp wit, for my defense.
Close-meshed mail beneath my gabardine
Glittered all unseen.
Proud I strode and whirled my sword on high.

Then my friend went by,
Passing in his shining joy unarmed,
With not even an amulet that charmed;
Singing for the innocence confessed
In his sparkling eyes, his buoyant breast;
Swiftly, gaily thrusting through the trees
To his deep and darkling forest doom
As I thought. But still before me goes,
Blithe and wonderful, his candid smile
Every ambushed shadow to illume,
And the quickening sympathy that glows
Sudden on his cheek when friends seem foes,
And his utter radiance without guile,
Merry ignorance, where I am -- wise?

Where they lurk and snarl and close with me
All unscathed of foemen passeth he
Seeing no strife, unarmed eternally. . . .
And e'en the Terrors turn away their eyes!





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