The Horseshoe Nails

"The Horseshoe Nails" is a poignant narrative by James Baldwin that explores themes of identity, community, and the struggle for belonging. Set against a backdrop of social and racial tensions, the book delves into the lives of its characters as they navigate their personal challenges and the larger societal issues that affect them. Baldwin’s incisive prose captures the complexities of human relationships, the search for self-acceptance, and the impact of history on individual lives. Through vivid storytelling, he invites readers to reflect on the intersection of personal and collective experiences.

• Short story

								
I

A blacksmith was shoeing a horse.

"Shoe him quickly, for the king wishes to ride him to battle," said
the groom who had brought him.

"Do you think there will be a battle?" asked the blacksmith.

"Most certainly, and very soon, too," answered the man. "The king's
enemies are even now advancing, and all are ready for the fight. To-
day will decide whether Richard or Henry shall be king of England."

The smith went on with his work. From a bar of iron he made four
horseshoes. These he hammered and shaped and fitted to the horse's
feet. Then he began to nail them on.

But after he had nailed on two shoes, he found that he had not nails
enough for the other two. "I have only six nails," he said, "and it
will take a little time to hammer out ten more."

"Oh, well," said the groom, "won't six nails do? Put three in each
shoe. I hear the trumpets now. King Richard will be impatient."

"Three nails in each shoe will hold them on," said the smith. "Yes,
I think we may risk it."

So he quickly finished the shoeing, and the groom hurried to lead the
horse to the king.

II

The battle had been raging for some time. King Richard rode hither and
thither, cheering his men and fighting his foes. His enemy, Henry, who
wished to be king, was pressing him hard.

Far away, at the other side of the field, King Richard saw his men
falling back. Without his help they would soon be beaten. So he spurred
his horse to ride to their aid.

He was hardly halfway across the stony field when one of the horse's
shoes flew off. The horse was lamed on a rock. Then another shoe came
off. The horse stumbled, and his rider was thrown heavily to the
ground.

Before the king could rise, his frightened horse, although lame, had
galloped away. The king looked, and saw that his soldiers were beaten,
and that the battle was everywhere going against him.

He waved his sword in the air. He shouted, "A horse! A horse! My
kingdom for a horse." But there was no horse for him. His soldiers
were intent on saving themselves. They could not give him any help.

The battle was lost. King Richard was lost. Henry became king of
England.

      "For the want of a nail the shoe was lost;
      For the want of a shoe the horse was lost;
      For the want of a horse the battle was lost;
      For the failure of battle the kingdom was lost;--
      And all for the want of a horseshoe nail."

Richard the Third was one of England's worst kings. Henry, the Duke
of Richmond, made war upon him and defeated him in a great battle.
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