Armor by Valerie Parente

A woman shouldn’t have to cover her body in armor
to defend her honor
but when she’s dressed a little softer
you say she’s asking to be conquered.

In forging it’s never been commonplace
to make female breastplates
but you say anything less is too risqué
a rhetoric more violent than a sword’s blade.

It’s almost like the world has been stacked
to blame women for being attacked
all while telling her to sit back and relax
and wait for a knight in shining armor.

But you see, many women would rather fight and die
than suffer and stay alive
ringing in her ears is the battle cry
that the knight in shining armor was a lie.

No a woman shouldn’t have to wear her own armor
to make sure men don’t harm her
but if so called protectors keep making life harder
the dainty and fragile lady trope is a goner.

– Valerie Parente (11-8-2026)