"Jacob Kills Absalom, Son of King David" by Tempesta‘Absalom, Absalom’: A Poem by Brian Yapko The Society August 3, 2025 Culture, Poetry 2 Comments . Absalom, Absalom “Then David sent out [to battle Absalom’s army] one third of the people… And the king said to the people, ‘I also will surely go out with you myself.’ But the people answered, ‘You shall not go out! … You are worth ten thousand of us now. For you are now more help to us in the city.’ Then the king said to them, ‘Whatever seems best to you I will do.’ So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. Now the king had commanded [the captains], ‘Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.’ And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom.“ —2 Samuel 18:2-5 How well I can recall when you were nineAnd burned with fever. None thought you’d survive.I wept. I prayed. I begged God for a signThat you, my treasured son, might stay alive.I kneeled before you, murmured lullabies;And Heaven heard my sobbing and my sighs. The decades passed. The son I cherished mostDefamed me, tried to stab me in the back,Usurp my throne and kill my loyal host.O, Absalom. Survive this day’s attack!The loss you need to taste is justly earnedAs payment for the father’s love you’ve spurned. I’m glad I’m banned as witness to this fight.I am instead directed to wait hereBeside this gate. The Lord expects my spiteTo fade and wither ere you are brought near.Soon smoke will rise to show the battle’s done—We’ll then meet face-to-face, my faithless son. O, Traitor! Absalom! Yet I would knowThat in defeat you’re safe. You shall returnIn chains to face your king. I’ll mete out woeFor you have painful lessons yet to learn.You did far worse than mock and criticizeMy governance! To wound me was unwise. But soon enough I’ll have my son again!Poor Absalom! You were deceived and drivenBy him who tempted Eve and lied to Cain.Just show repentance—you will be forgiven!Like you, I’ve made grave errors I must face;But even so, God’s showered me with grace. I know when you were younger you meant well:Your brother forced his flesh upon your sister.A rape, you screamed. A knife. Then Amnon fellBy your own hand. Such evil days! A Twister—Like God wrought unto Job—whirled forth to smashOur dynasty, to grind hope into ash. Our royal house has faced such painful days!Tamar, then Amnon—tragedies I’ve ponderedSo deeply they seem twisted like a maze.And then you left. You left me and you wandered.You changed. You mocked me as a king and father.You would not hear my side. You could not bother. But brute sedition? Give me one good reason!You were my pride—a son both smart and able.You had no right to stumble into treasonOr call my life a failed and tortured fable.You warped the truth to overthrow my State.How readily can love morph into hate! I love you with a hate which rends my heart.O, Absalom, I injured you and failedTo guide you well. But, son, can we not startAnew once you’ve been chained and I’ve prevailed?God hears my prayers. He will not turn His face.He’ll surely lead you back to my embrace. How many of my enemies have said“The King hath no deliverance in God!”But they are wrong! The Lord anoints my head,And blessings line the road that I have trod!The hatred we have felt can be reversed.Let’s both forget that we each other cursed! My Absalom! God feels our hurt and pain,And surely He won’t let us suffer more.His grace shall wash our sins away like rainAnd we shall love each other as before.The hate that poisons love at last shall cease.Jerusalem shall be a place of peace. . . Brian Yapko is a retired lawyer whose poetry has appeared in over fifty journals. He is the winner of the 2023 SCP International Poetry Competition. Brian is also the author of several short stories, the science fiction novel El Nuevo Mundo and the gothic archaeological novel Bleeding Stone. He lives in Wimauma, Florida. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. ***Read Our Comments Policy Here*** 2 Responses Scott Nems August 3, 2025 Beautiful poem. Delightfully reminiscent of Melville’s “Clarel.” Metre is a bit questionable on certain lines, such as “I wept. I prayed. I begged God for a sign” from the first stanza, where the impulse is on ‘begged’ and ‘God’ is lowered — a bit unnatural by my reading (not to mention arguably blasphemous — I joke). Lovely poem on the whole though. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson August 3, 2025 Another great poem, this time on the conflict too often between a father and a son. Ripped from the scripture of the “Bible” these amazing words of the love/hate relationship are amplified and treated with great masterful sensitivity for the father’s grief and pain. I once recently intimated you were a rising star in the field of classical poetry. With your most recent poems you are already shining there in the constellation. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ
Scott Nems August 3, 2025 Beautiful poem. Delightfully reminiscent of Melville’s “Clarel.” Metre is a bit questionable on certain lines, such as “I wept. I prayed. I begged God for a sign” from the first stanza, where the impulse is on ‘begged’ and ‘God’ is lowered — a bit unnatural by my reading (not to mention arguably blasphemous — I joke). Lovely poem on the whole though. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson August 3, 2025 Another great poem, this time on the conflict too often between a father and a son. Ripped from the scripture of the “Bible” these amazing words of the love/hate relationship are amplified and treated with great masterful sensitivity for the father’s grief and pain. I once recently intimated you were a rising star in the field of classical poetry. With your most recent poems you are already shining there in the constellation. Reply