what is armor?
sometimes, a thick straight braid,
like the one that hung down her back,
plaited quick when battle will not allow
for hairs in the face.
sometimes, mirth in the face of madness,
pain taken seriously induces panic, so
better to skip around it like
the jesters we are.
sometimes, acres, furlongs, chains and rods,
distance running interference against
the ones we love and
hate and
cannot change.
sometimes, five fingers in a fist,
neither jabbed or hooked, but
turned inward on themselves,
knuckles drained white until
palms spill red but
at least
it’s proof the lance hasn’t
landed you yet.
behind the words…
i had the idea for this poem before serendipitously discovering the word that would become its perfect title.
i noticed, in a moment of extreme stress, that i had almost absentmindedly gathered up my longish hair, and woven it into a single braid. done sans mirror, it wasn’t particularly neat nor flattering. but it was necessary. it felt like i was girding myself for something.
it occurred to me in that moment that my mother, when i still called her that, had braided her long dark hair in this exact manner almost every day of my young life — thick and pulled back tight from her face.
i wondered if she too had done it in preparation, for protection. then i started thinking about all the other ways we don armor in our lives every day, seen and unseen, just so we can survive…
anyway, back to the title.
in poking around for “cool words that mean armor or putting on armor” i happened upon the marvelous word “panoply.”
From Merriam-Webster:
panoply \PAN-uh-plee\ noun. 1 a : a full suit of armor. b : ceremonial attire. 2 : something forming a protective covering. 3 a : a magnificent or impressive array.
Further googling revealed the word has Greek, French and Latin roots.
From the Greek “pan”(all) and “hopla” (arms) → French “panoplie” and Modern Latin “panoplia” (full armor) to the late 16th century’s “panoply” meaning ‘complete protection for spiritual warfare’, often with biblical allusion to Ephesians. 6:11, 13.
Now i’m not religious, but I do think that’s intriguing etymology. and it fits perfectly atop this poem.
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🐝 beth
