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...SONNET: 12 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE THE DARK FOREST by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS AS THE GREEK'S SIGNAL FLAME by WALT WHITMAN EPIGRAM: 18. THE ENEMY OF LIFE by THOMAS WYATT A SOLDIER'S GRAVE by JOHN ALBEE WALKING HOME AT NIGHT; HUSBAND TO WIFE by WILLIAM BARNES THE SPINNER by CLARA DOTY BATES RUE DU BOIS by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN PACCHIAROTTO AND HOW HE WORKED IN DISTEMPER by ROBERT BROWNING |