WRITTEN AT A TIME OF GREAT MENTAL DISTRESS.
AND art thou he? said Saul, so young, so fair,
Stripling, can’st thou to face this giant dare?
When strongest veterans, of the noblest fame,
Tremble when they but hear Goliah’s name.
Tell me, what rashness prompts thee to this deed?
What hope sustains thee, that thou shalt succeed,
Gainst him, whose ponderous body, and whose mind,
As yet, no equal on the earth can find?
The youthful David meekly bow’d his head,
And unto Israel’s king, these words he said
(Whilst soft timidity, its crimson tide
Spread o’er his cheeks, as he to Saul reply’d):
Great king rever’d, an humble swain behold,
Who keeps on distant plains his father’s fold;
Few are the flocks which form his little store,
But he’s content, and covets nothing more.
It chanc’d as I, this little charge did keep,
Music’s soft strains beguiling drowsy sleep,
A furious bear, by hunger wild and fierce,
With rav’nous tusks, a tender lamb did pierce,
Heaven gave me strength, I seiz’d the angry bear,
And from his murderous jaws the lamb did tear;
The bear I vanquish’d, and upon the plain,
I left the desperate invader slain.
Again a lion bold and full of fire,
Leap’d ‘midst my flocks, foaming with deadly ire;
Again by heaven strengthen’d was my hand,
I left the monster breathless on the land;
My father’s scatter’d flock my care collects,
And into safer folds their steps directs.
Shall I then fear this heathen to subdue,
Whose threats the shrinking army thus pursue?
Shall he who gave me fortitude and might,
To slay a bear and lion in a night,
Forsake me in this great, this trying hour,
And not to conquer, give me force and power?
Ah, no! my humble efforts will not fail,
Nor this vain boaster o’er our arms prevail:
For even as the furious beasts I slew,
So shall Goliah perish by me too;
My feeble arm shall prove Philistine’s rod,
And all shall own the wond’rous works of God.
Let my desponding soul this lesson view,
And feel how strong the doctrine, and how true:
Long has affliction fallen to my share,
Destructive as the lion and the bear:
But heaven supported me and brought me thro’
By this best aid, despair I must subdue.
The giant’s sorrow which approacheth now,
By this assistance, shall before me bow;
That bounteous Providence, that Power Supreme,
Whose sacred influence doth around me beam,
Shall still protect me in this hour of need,
And cause my anxious efforts to succeed;
Shall guide me still thro’ this sad veil of woe,
And I, like David, God’s protection know.
(Caroline Maxwell)
More Poetry from Caroline Maxwell:
Caroline Maxwell Poems based on Topics: Mind, Sadness, Fairness, Fate & Destiny, Fame, Name, Power, Youth, Night, Time, Fire- The Suppliant (Caroline Maxwell Poems)
- Gowry's Conspiracy (Caroline Maxwell Poems)
- Rosetta (Caroline Maxwell Poems)
- The Heir Of Tyrconnel; Or, The Threatening Spectre (Caroline Maxwell Poems)
- The Old Man In Blue (Caroline Maxwell Poems)
- Sir Stephen - Part II (Caroline Maxwell Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: God Poems, Night Poems, Mind Poems, Sadness Poems, Time Poems, Youth Poems, Heaven Poems, Fairness Poems, Name Poems, Kings & Queens Poems, Fire PoemsBased on Keywords: rav, rashness, rever, desponding, tusks, collects, chanc, boaster, philistine, invader, approacheth