It isn’t what I wanted and yet, here I am
Reluctant but obedient to the greater plan
Did my share of running, tried so hard to break free
But there is no escape… it’s all in the prophecy.
See what you get? You cannot hide.
Into the storm, over the side.
Do as you’re told, you cannot fail
Or it’s three days in the belly of the whale.
I used to be important and now just look at me.
A pawn here on a game board, a slave to destiny
Given one last mission, a message for their ears
Meant to break them down, give them ashes, give them tears.
See what you get? You cannot hide.
Into the storm, over the side.
Do as you’re told, you cannot fail
Or it’s three days in the belly of the whale.
I was told to get up, go and shout into the street
The end is quickly coming. Now, isn’t that a treat?
Is anybody listening? I’m just one lonely voice.
Here against my will to tell the world to make their choice.
See what you get? You cannot hide.
Into the storm, over the side.
Do as you’re told, you cannot fail
Or it’s three days in the belly of the whale.
Jonah, praying in the great fish,
with putrid slime on red eyelids,
has the sudden faith
of near death -
sings on the beach,
fish-vomit in his beard.
Whale-songs drift,
doubts echo,
luring a pod to sand spits
where waves throw up bones.
Through the front Mr. Jonah was swallowed.
In the sea monster’s belly he wallowed.
In the muck and the gas
unhygienic, alas,
was the back door expulsion that followed.
Reluctant Rogue Redo?
By Mark Stucky
If Jonah, reluctant rogue of a prophet,
had desired to visit Ninevah,
instead of fleeing the other direction,
how different would his story have been?
More succinct but less interesting?
No stormy maritime mishap?
No hard-to-swallow fish story?
No prayer in the belly of the beast?
Just marching through streets,
preaching his pithy prediction?
Would Ninevah still have repented?
Or did the whale-of-a-tale
add conviction to his message?
Jonah was not unlike me,
a spiritual rogue of today,
refusing to answer my call,
enduring intolerable storms,
crying in the belly of my beast.
Like Jonah, reversing direction,
might I yet find my path
and emerge from the depths?
(First published in Poetica Magazine, 3 March 2022. See also my poem “Whale Wayfarers,” telling two cautionary whale tales about hazardous opposite extremes in following one’s “calling.”)
(Image by anonymous on Pixabay.com.)
You are not wrong
So please don’t feel blue
But people, belittle
They’ll manipulate you
You are not wrong
Just because you’re unique
But people will judge
As they love to speak
You are not wrong
If you don’t fit the mold
Forget what they say
They’re naive and bold
You are not wrong
For just being you
You are one of a kind
And your heart is true
You are not wrong
Please don’t forget
Wherever you are
You’ll always fit
Jonah was rashly curious
And it became injurious:
Unannounced slap and hard kick
And it earned him wounds to lick...
A crude one on his tummy
And an adult yelled "Mummy!"
The song in his ears "leave now
Or else you're a finished cow
Already, a bleeding brow
Some arrow to leave a bow
He'd seen they were robbing Jim
With screwed up eyes he'd made dim
Appearance of cops not slim
Like Gangs cup filled to the brim
Nothing now but " Run for it! "
But one could see The Not Fi
Three days and three nights in a fish
Is more sushi than one might wish
But God had a plan
That needed a man
To analeyes how fish tails swish
Lying flat on our backs
Parallel to the sky
Both completely relaxed
Lying flat on our backs
Naming clouds that go by
Just sweet Jonah and I
Lying flat on our backs
Parallel to the sky
To preach to Ninevah was not his wish -
So sailing west, the prophet disobeyed.
When God appointed wind and storm and fish
To punish, teach, and save him, Jonah prayed:
"I called out to the Lord in my distress,
I cried for help from deep within my grave.
With songs of great thanksgiving will I bless
Your name. You answered me - I know you save.”
Then preaching holy wrath, he watched the city
From low to high repent and seek the Lord.
God showered all with mercy, love, and pity
Then Jonah's faith he patiently restored.
Three days; salvation; grace; all intertwine
As Christ's prophetic resurrection sign.
Woe to the city of blood,
full of lies,
full of plunder,
never without victims!
Nahum 3:1 NIV
FORGETTING JONAH
Nineveh suffers.
turn your back...don’t feel sorry.
how the mighty cry
in their evil-wicked ways.
mercy long, not forever…
11/8/2019
Too often, I find, you’ve fallen behind
Brightly, you shine, at end of the line
More passion than most
Intensely you boast
Embrace your design, in a world, unkind
Tell me all your big ideas
Let’s see your greatest moves
Repeat yourself a thousand times
My interest, you won’t lose
Nerf guns and ninja kids
The one and only, Jackie Chan
The amazing things you did
And what you’ll do, when you’re a man
What happened in that movie
And how you won that game
Fort nite and call of duty
And, no, they’re not the same
The thoughts that cross your mind
As you lie awake in bed
I’ll assure you, things are fine
Squeeze your hand and kiss your head
I love you more than you’ll ever know
You’ve made my life worth living
So, every day, as I watch you grow
My attention, I’ll be giving
JONAH'S ADVENTURE
Ran to Tarshish
Now, inside fish
DEVOUT JONAH
Three whole days
Inside, Jonah prays
FISH VOMIT
God ordered fish
Fulfilled God's wish
JONAH TURNS OBEDIENT
Went to Nineveh
Preached God's way
TURN TO GOD
People there repented
In sackcloth lamented
GOD HAS THE FINAL WORD
Jonah has hypertension
God teaches lesson
09/19/18
Contest: Six-Word Couplet Series Encore poetry contest
Sponsor: Mark Toney
Jonah Son of Amittai
Jonah should go to Nineveh one day,
But to Tarshish is where he ran away,
And off to Joppa he raced and went,
Without ever having God's consent.
Paid required amount and went aboard;
Headed towards Tarshish from the Lord;
Jonah then was thrown into raging sea
Where he never had been meant to be.
They offered sacrifices and vows made;
To God who was one they once forbade;
Certain section of water God would hallow,
And Jonah, a great fish, him did swallow.
Will complete letter after I wake up tomorrow.
The rest is all ready to be typed up. Jim Horn
When Jonah Awoke
Before going to sleep his feet he did soak;
Then Jonah decided he would tell a joke;
Could hardly believe,
Dream would receive;
Was swallowed by a whale when he awoke.
James Thesarious Hilarious Horn
Retired Veteran and Poet
Bolivia, NC
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