Robert Graves
(FOR D.C.T., KILLED AT FRICOURT, MARCH,
1916)
Yet once an earlier David took
Smooth pebbles from the brook:
Out between the lines he went
To that one-sided tournament,
A shepherd boy who stood out fine
And young to fight a Philistine
Clad all in brazen mail. He swears
That he’s killed lions, he’s killed bears,
And those that scorn the God of Zion
Shall perish so like bear or lion.
But … the historian of that fight
Had not the heart to tell it right.
Striding within javelin range,
Goliath marvels at this strange
Goodly-faced boy so proud of strength.
David’s clear eye measures the length;
With hand thrust back, he cramps one knee,
Poises a moment thoughtfully,
And hurls with a long vengeful swing.
The pebble, humming from the sling
Like a wild bee, flies a sure line
For the forehead of the Philistine;
Then … but there comes a brazen clink,
And quicker than a man can think
Goliath’s shield parries each cast.
Clang! clang! and clang! was David’s last.
Scorn blazes in the Giant’s eye,
Towering unhurt six cubits high.
Says foolish David, “Damn your shield!
And damn my sling! but I’ll not yield.”
He takes his staff of Mamre oak,
A knotted shepherd-staff that’s broke
The skull of many a wolf and fox
Come filching lambs from Jesse’s flocks.
Loud laughs Goliath, and that laugh
Can scatter chariots like blown chaff
To rout; but David, calm and brave,
Holds his ground, for God will save.
Steel crosses wood, a flash, and oh!
Shame for beauty’s overthrow!
(God’s eyes are dim, His ears are shut.)
One cruel backhand sabre-cut
“I’m hit! I’m killed!” young David cries,
Throws blindly forward, chokes … and dies.
And look, spike-helmeted, grey, grim,
Goliath straddles over him.
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
This poem reimagines the biblical tale of David and Goliath, but it twists the familiar narrative into a harrowing tragedy. Instead of victory through faith and cleverness, David meets a brutal end, his youthful bravery undone by the harsh realities of battle. This retelling serves as a stark commentary on war, heroism, and the gap between idealized stories and the grim truth.
The opening stanzas echo the biblical account, portraying David as a confident and resourceful shepherd boy, ready to take on the mighty Goliath. The vivid imagery of the “shepherd-staff” and David’s “clear eye” imbues him with strength and determination, aligning him with the archetypal hero. Yet, the ominous foreshadowing in lines like “But… the historian of that fight / Had not the heart to tell it right” signals the poem’s departure from the traditional narrative.
As the battle unfolds, the reality of Goliath’s overwhelming power becomes undeniable. The repeated “clang! clang!” of the shield deflecting David’s stones emphasizes the futility of his efforts, transforming the story from one of divine intervention to one of sheer human vulnerability. David’s despair, expressed in his expletive-laden frustration, grounds the tale in a modern, unvarnished realism.
The poem’s climax—David’s fall to a “cruel backhand sabre-cut”—is brutal and unflinching. His death is not a noble sacrifice but a visceral, messy collapse of youthful idealism. The image of Goliath “straddling over him” underscores the finality of his defeat and serves as a grim symbol of the futility faced by countless young soldiers who, like David, believed in the righteousness of their cause.
By blending ancient legend with the brutal imagery of World War I, the poem critiques the romanticization of war and heroism. It suggests that faith and courage, while admirable, are not enough against the machinery and savagery of modern conflict. The invocation of “spike-helmeted, grey, grim” Goliath further links the Philistine giant to the dehumanizing forces of war, making the poem resonate beyond its biblical setting.
Ultimately, this retelling mourns the loss of youthful hope and the destructive forces that crush it. By subverting the expected outcome, the poem forces readers to confront the disparity between myth and reality, and it leaves a lingering sense of anger and sorrow for those like David—idealistic, brave, and tragically outmatched.