A Year with Rilke: David Sings Before Saul (II)

A Year with Rilke: David Sings Before Saul (II)
Comment from Ruth: I feel profound sadness in this reading, darkening in tone from yesterday's first segment of the poem. I hear the plea of the younger, who is being drained of all his youthful energy for the one who does not release him from his duty to sooth. Saul is a selfish being here, wasting that young hand for only his own comfort.

It reminds me of the Hebrew concept of hesed. My understanding of it is that it is mutuality in relationship, in which the two who 'shake hands' in hesed agree that they will each not only uphold their side of the agreement, but they will also do their best to uphold the other's side of the agreement. It's more like saying 'I'm responsible for 100%' not 'I'm responsible for 50%, and you 50%.' This is a beautiful concept in the relationship with God, and biblically is often translated as 'mercy.' But 'mercy' does not contain the breadth and depth of this idea.

In this story of Saul and David, I see David doing all the work, and Saul not even holding up his own side, to want to be healed of his deep and violent emotions.