Rembrandt: Man in Armour

No warrior here.

This is a man who has put on some armour

In the cause of art. No enemy is near,

The helmet is well burnished and no doubt,

If tapped, gives off a musical note.

It would certainly not

Smudge hand or glove with caked or dusty blood.

If the man is faintly smiling, that would fit.

Rembrandt, man, everyone will love it.

Bring back your son, yourself, the woman at her bath,

And we'll use words like masterpiece again,

A cupboard is the best place for jingle-jangle.

Oh it's well done: the head looms out of darkness

With all the accoutrements bar pain,

You are great; even a loss from you's a gain.

But do not trivialize the death of men.