armorskin

the ironclad man is walking by
sometimes brazen
sometimes shy
his cast iron eyes can see no wrong
his days are short
his dreams are long

the ironclad man is standing there
sometimes common
sometimes rare
his plate iron ears can hear no ill
they never have
they never will

the ironclad man reclines at peace
his thoughts are strange
and will not cease
his chain mail skin is metal tough
stainless steel
is tough enough

his anvil tongue will never wag
his toolsteel heart will never sag

1972