Suppose, this time, Goliath should not fail;
Suppose, this time, the sling should not avail
On the Judean plain where once for all
Mankind the pebble struck, suppose the tale
Should have a different end: the shepherd yield,
The triumph pass to iron arm and thigh,
The wonder vanish from the blooming field,
The mailed hulk stand, and the sweet singer lie.
Suppose, but then what grace will go unsung,
What temple wall unbuilt, what garden bare;
What ploughshare broken and what harp unstrung!
Defeat will compass every heart aware
How black the ramparts of a world wherein
The psalm is stilled, and David does not win.
Marie Syrkin (March 23, 1899 – February 2, 1989) was an American writer, translator, educator, and activist. She emigrated to the U.S. from Bern, Switzerland in 1908 and earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Cornell University, then taught high school in New York City. In 1950 Marie Syrkin was named associate professor of English at Brandeis University, where she taught until her retirement in 1966 as professor of the humanities. On top: Bernini's David.
Thank you for making us quiet faithful readers of Best American Poetry aware of this poem. In these tumultuous times, it is a comfort. David will win!! Again!! He must!!
Posted by: Kat Georges | January 25, 2025 at 04:26 PM