Archilochus

From the Columbia History of the World:

Before 650 [BCE], the poet Archilochus of Paros sang of his escape from battle at the cost of abandoning his shield — by traditional standards the ultimate disgrace. His poems set a fashion among poets, if not soldiers. The Greeks are the first people to produce individuals who are not afraid of going counter to common opinion not because of some supposed revelation, but just because they want to, and of celebrating the fact.

Here is the poem, according to Wikipedia:

Some Saian mountaineer

Struts today with my shield.

I threw it down by a bush and ran

When the fighting got hot.

Life seemed somehow more precious.

It was a beautiful shield.

I know where I can buy another

Exactly like it, just as round.