David Fights the Philistines

David Fights the Philistines 

That night, David slumps 

          to the royal pavilion, 

parched though he drinks water, 

          unable to quench need

for the Spring of his enemy. 

          His guards chafe at David's 

need     —carry a pitcher, scale 

enemies' walls, dodge a sentry,

          traverse the camp. 

His guards discover this Spring,

     draw from it, and bring 

the full pitcher to David. 

David, though feverish, reckons 

that water alike to blood, 

          a danger to his Soul. 

David surmounts his suffering, 

               scorns his thirst. 

          David makes the water 

     a libation to God.