Jonah took the easy route,
running from the world
straight into a sperm whale.
Swallow me whole, take my
body as brine, flesh
shifting, turning into
soda bread. Or chew me
like a gummy worm–
I’m empty and sweet.
I’ll love you like I loved
Goliath who couldn’t see,
led to the slaughter, held
for fear and mocked and hurt and martyred.
Don’t let me die this way,
don’t let them use me or my
soul made of broken glass and
rusted fish hooks. I can only
breathe out mustard gas now.
Let me be remembered for that.