“Alas! the glory of Israel, Saul,
slain upon your heights;
how can the warriors have fallen!
Saul and Jonathan, beloved and cherished,
separated neither in life nor in death,
swifter than eagles, stronger than lions!
Women of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet and in finery,
who decked your attire with ornaments of gold.
How can the warriors have fallen–
in the thick of the battle,
slain upon your heights!
I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother!
most dear have you been to me;
more precious have I held love for you than love for women.
How can the warriors have fallen,
the weapons of war have perished!”

2 Samuel 1:19, 23-27

Now are the embers darkened,

and dimly sinks the night;

stars fall from zenith softly,

to be swallowed by the light

that cracks the east like heartache

and seeps across the skies.

Now are the mighty fallen

to silence on the heights.



How can the day be dawning?

Morning has come too soon.

I'd swear I hear you calling—

how can you light be through?

How could there still be birdsong

when every song was for you?

Now are the mighty fallen,

and I am falling, too.



Strongest you were, and stronger

than lions in their pride,

swifter than hawks or thunder

or lightning as it dives,

gone now like any other,

fragile as every life.

Now are the mighty fallen;

blind are my weeping eyes.



Now you are gone, my brothers;

gone are the fathers, too.

Grinly now stand the mothers,

with sisters they're grieving you.

Now children rend their garments,

learning to weep too soon.

Now are the mighty fallen;

now we are fallen, too.

David Composing the Psalms, Paris Psalter, 10th century By anonymous – Paris psalter (BnF MS Grec 139), folio 1v, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=807679