David And Absalom Poem by David McLansky

David And Absalom



When David heard that Absalom
Had crowned himself in old Hebron
He fled his city, Jerusalem,
To make a stand in the Wadi Kidron.

Much wept the father of murdered Ammon
As they fled on foot hard set upon,
Lamenting as they climbed Mount Olive,
The betrayal of so many colleagues.

Conniving, plotting, giving orders
To secure themselves in safer borders;
Leaving spies to inform, betray,
To give mis-counsel like Hushai.

And as they sped and marched along,
Counting whom they counted on,
Shimei cursed David for Saul's blood,
Called him scoundrel, thief and thug.

Said Abishai, son of Zeruiah,
'Shall he live, this filthy liar?
Shall I behead this raving dog,
Who lives to curse his living lord? '

But said the King, 'Hold up thy sword;
He shouts his curse before the Lord;
What barb have I for this man,
Still loyal to a dead King's clan? '

'I have a son from out my loins
Who would in stealth my life purloin.
He whose hair I combed at feasts
In silence prayed my reign would cease.'

So on they marched as Shimei cursed,
Flinging stones and throwing earth;
On they trod beneath his verse,
David mulling, 'I've known worse.'

Thursday, April 10, 2014
Topic(s) of this poem: love
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