I am David
I saw my father, up in the distance.
He was coming with my older brothers and an old man.
The old man looked familiar
Although I did not know who he was.
I thought all of this was very strange.
Normally my father did not come to the fields.
One of my older brothers did.
And sometimes they would taunt me.
Saying, David you are just a shepherd.
Go take your slingand protect the lambs
That you would never eat come feast time.
The words stung me.
But I never cried.
I would not, could not, ever let them see tears in my eyes.
Even though there were wounds that mocked me every day.

The old man approached me.
I saw a sword on him
It was covered in blood.
I did not ask why he had a sword.
He must have been a mighty man in his youth.
Then he told me, I am Samuel
Samuel, the prophet of the nation.
Samuel, the seer to the king.
Samuel, the man who anointed Saul.
The king and father of Jonathan.
When I was out in the fields.
I would pretend to be Jonathan’s armor-bearer.
Although when I brought up the topic excited with Eliab.
He sneered, Armor-bearers don’t have slings.
And they have armor.
You have no armor, so don’t call yourself that.
That did not stop me.

When a bear came to take a lamb.
I rose up.
Angry.
It was bad enough I had to be out here
Alone.
Watching sheep when no one cared for me.
But this bear cannot take a lamb
Because then I would be the disgrace of the family.
I took my sling
And found a stone.
It was smooth, good for flight.
And the bear charged.
Amazing enough, I felt no fear.
I said, A sling for the Lord and David.
I hit the bear.
The bear kept on coming.
I readied my staff, prepared to do the worse.
But the bear collapsed and died not too far from me, about a body’s length away.
I turned and walked away.
Knowing that if I told my brothers, they would not believe me.
They would mock, How can we know your word is true
When none of the lambs were touched.
So I kept quiet.
So I keep silent.

My father thought I would be a good musician.
He said, Eliab will lead our family in war
While David plays the music of our people.
He got a lyre from the village.
And I began to play.
My hands connected with the lyre’s heart.
And soon I began to sing.
I thought that it was good, so I began to write it down.
Songs to my Lord.
Songs about protection from bears.
And Songs about one day being noticed for who I am.
And not the youngest of my family.

Samuel told me to kneel.
Could it be?
I dare not hope to think.
After all a servant told me there was a ritual feast at home.
A feast that I was not invited.
Because Eliab yelled at the servant, Then who would guard the lambs!
We need the servants to serve us and Prophet.
I knelt down on the hard surface.
I then felt, oil.
I had never felt oil on my head before.
A little got into my eyes and I blinked fast.
Then the oil trickled down my lips and onto my garment.
Prophet then proclaimed Long live the King.
King?
I saw Eliab scowling with rage.
But I smiled, satisfied.
I would be the king after Jonathan.