One Little Rock and One Little Man

“Just gimme a rock! I’ll show that guy!
Stand back and give me room!
He brags and boasts and struts around;
he’s full of gas, that pompous clown!
This day he meets his doom!”

“Now, David, please control yourself,
and look what’s here at hand.
Goliath there is ten feet tall
and you, my lad, are rather small
to take on such a man.

“His armor weighs as much as you;
his spear is twice your height!
Those muscles in his arms are huge
and you? O, David, you will lose
if you pursue this fight.”

“Get out of my way and hand me that stone;
today the giant dies.
That puffed up windbag’s in for a shock.
Let’s see if he likes this jagged rock
between his glaring eyes!

“See how he snarls and stamps his feet;
he tries to look so mean.
He thinks he’s caused us fear today,
but insults hurled are merely a play
to scare us from the scene.

“Well, Goliath, old boy, if you’ll turn just a bit,
a little more profile please.
Wrapped here in my sling is a present for you
delivered expressly from Yahweh and crew.
Let’s see how you look on your knees!”

“O, David,” they cried, “your aim’s found its mark.
Goliath is flat on his face!
We knew all along we could count on you, lad;
never a doubt that the power you had
was sufficient to end this disgrace.”

“That’s strange,” David said. I thought you were sure
that a small man would be in the way.
I remember you saying: ‘Go home to your sheep’,
that only the big men were able to keep
the giant from claiming the day.”

One little rock and one little man!
And now the people all say
that out of the turmoil and fear in the crowd,
David stepped forth, refused to be bowed,
and became a great leader that day.

(A reflection on I Samuel 17)