ARMORED

It comes with the territory–

with the choice of

cold-rolled steel,

being corset-bound,

harnessed and hammered 

into place.

There is a heft

 in every plate,

in every lamination,

from comb to saboton.

Every movement

is a rasp, a groan

of metal

against metal.

You look and walk

like an alien.

This is what it means

to be defended, guarded.

In other words: a prisoner

safe behind bars.