There Is a Stone for Every Goliath
As a cane for the disobedient
As a flog for the misbehaved
As a hunger for the lazy
As a staff for the cattle
As a serious beating for goats
As a red sea for Pharaoh and his chariots
As a disgrace for the proud
As a jail for law-breakers
As a whip for horses
As a 6-feet for the dead
So also there is a stone for the wicked
Like the stone for Goliath
So also a stone is available for the disobedient
Just like the one that hit Goliath’s forehead
And the giant collapsed disappointedly.
Briefs of the Poem
The poem nearly resembles the theme of wickedness but it concludes with having the right attitude and avoiding wickedness. The attitude of Goliath shows pride. He is always proud and full of himself. This is why he has overconfidence that he will defeat David.
The poet uses the expression: similes to compare what will happen to Goliath and those that puff like a Goliath. The poet says that the end of people like Goliath is a disappointment.
A cane, frog, hunger, staff, serious beating, red sea, disgrace, jail, whip, and 6-feet are compared with disobedient, misbehaved, lazy, cattle, goats, Pharaoh and his chariots, proud, law-breakers, horses, and dead. Similes are comparing two entities with the use of the word: ‘as’
The poet says and confirms that something terrible will befall the wicked. The poem is a theatrical allusion as the poet cleverly uses the event of David and Goliath in the bible to explicate what will happen to the disobedient.
The poet concludes that the consequence of the wicked is disappointment and death as Goliath in the bible died a disappointing death.
The poem opens our eyes to the reality of life that nothing last forever. If you have power today. Yours is not the best. There is someone somewhere that has more power than you. Everyone should be humble and not be full of himself/herself.
Word List and Meanings
Chariots: Light, covered, four-wheeled pleasure carriage with two seats and those drive them
Practice Questions
1. Discuss the predominant figurative expression used in the first stanza.
2. Analyse the poetic sense as portrayed in the second stanza of the poem.
3. Explain the message of the last stanza of the poem.
4. State the lessons leant in the poem.