When I wrote this poem I was thinking about the political discourse these days, much of it revolving around fear of Muslims, immigrants, gays, etc.

Living in the south, I often see the remains of armadillos on the highway and heard about their proclivity to jumping when startled, as when a car is approaching. I thought this ironic, considering their armored exterior. Sometimes fear and ignorance can cause us to do stupid things. Even the best armor doesn't protect the armadillo from fear.

Gary Bloom grew up in Minneapolis and has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Mankato (Minnesota) State University. He has been writing articles and poetry for more than twenty years with credits in many magazines and websites, including American Visions, The Educated Traveler, Milwaukee Magazine, Players, Chronogram, and Black Diaspora. After retiring from work as a database administrator he now spends his time writing and traveling. He lives in Pass Christian, Mississippi.

Armed to the teeth
Little fortresses
That should have
Nothing to fear
Yet they cannot
Help themselves
When frightened
To jump straight
Up, levitate
Into the hot undersides
Of cars
And certain death.

I could say something here
About the fortresses we
All build around ourselves
The irony
Of the armadillo
But you still wouldn't understand.