David, son of Israel slew Goliath
he smiled that one so small
could defeat one so largehe took Goliath's house
walked in his shoes
and ate at his tableDavid, son of Israel became Goliath
greedy, grasping, merciless
he thumbed his nose at
the ageless people
of the olive groves and desertremembering only that he had been small
he forgotthe daughters and sons of Palestine
do not forget
that a stone is not just a stone
lying in the rubble of their homes
it becomes a missile
ululating resistance
raising a storm of liberation.December 1988
This poem appeared in Hauling Up The Morning
The Red Sea Press, 1990
Marilyn's home page, her Wild Poppies poetry CD, other poems, Rescue the Word, writings on prison control units, on "Legal Issues for Women in Federal Prison", "On the Burning of African-American Churches".
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