Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DAVID AND JONATHAN, by LUCRETIA MARIA DAVIDSON



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DAVID AND JONATHAN, by                    
First Line: On the brow of gilboa is war's bloody stain
Last Line: Ah, how are the mighty fallen!
Subject(s): David (d. 962 B.c.); Jews; Jonathan (bible); Judaism


On the brow of Gilboa is war's bloody stain,
The pride and the beauty of Israel is slain;
O publish it not in proud Askelon's street,
Nor tell it in Gath, lest in triumph they meet,
For how are the mighty fallen!
O mount of Gilboa, no dew shalt thou see,
Save the blood of the Philistine fall upon thee;
For the strong-pinioned eagle of Israel is dead,
Thy brow is his pillow, thy bosom his bed!
O how are the mighty fallen!
Weep, daughters of Israel, weep o'er his grave!
What breast will now pity, what arm will now save?
O my brother! my brother! this heart bleeds for thee,
For thou weft a friend and a brother to me!
Ah, how are the mighty fallen!





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