Poetry · Chapter
Blanket Shield explained
A poem celebrating the practical and protective uses of a blanket, from keeping out the cold to serving as a shield in battle.
What happens
A poem celebrating the practical and protective uses of a blanket, from keeping out the cold to serving as a shield in battle. It recounts a historical anecdote of Mexican soldiers defeated by Indigenous warriors who used wet blankets as bulletproof shields.
Themes in this chapter
Pioneer and Settler Struggles
The poem highlights the resourcefulness and survival tactics of Indigenous peoples in frontier conflicts, contrasting their practical wisdom with the perceived folly of their Christian foes.
Key passages
“When blanket round us we do fold, It doth keep out the wind and cold; And when house is near to great fire, Wet blankets save from ruin dire.”
A blanket wrapped around us protects against wind and cold, and wet blankets can shield a house from fire.
Introduces the blanket's dual domestic and protective uses.
“A General in Mexico Advanced against Indian foe, But Indians did hold the field, Protected by wet blanket shield.”
A Mexican general attacked Indigenous warriors, but the warriors held their ground using wet blankets as shields.
Sets up the historical battle anecdote.
“Thus Indians rushed o’er the field, And caused the Mexicans to yield; The savages they were more wise Than Christian foe did them despise.”
The Indigenous warriors charged and forced the Mexicans to retreat, showing greater wisdom than the Christians who underestimated them.
Emphasizes the theme of underestimated ingenuity.