I used to wear it like armor
sword and shield
a living sigil upon a breast plate
It kept me safe
distant
A bannerman for the soul
"Halt! All who go there!"
for what you see is what you get
whirling and livid
laughing and disheveled
until you
You showed up
traipsing through miles of frozen wasteland
battling ghosts and wolves
You
in all your glimmering brilliance
with the light of a thousand heavens
my bannerman slain and my armor pierced
that beating sigil sinking beneath the flesh
through muscle and muk
sinking deep into bones
bonding and awakening
Falling away fears and doubts
all of that shining steel
glaring and distracting
just for show
oh but how I wore it well
fallen away now
leaving me
like fresh skin
I feel new
old wounds healed
with the faintest of scars
You have given me something
I hadn't known was lost
an awakening as bold as daylight
truth and courage and honor
and
love