I Consider Jonah’s Whale

You must have been lonely, 
slowly swimming 
in that vast darkness, 
waiting 
for your divine purpose 
to be fulfilled. 
Your mouth so large, 
and body bulky. 
You must have felt awkward 
among the swift and sleek. 
Other whales 
probably shunned you 
and wouldn’t play with you. 
Your life was only misery. 

And that vile-tasting man 
you ate 
and couldn’t digest. 
Your bowels wouldn’t move 
for three days and nights. 
That cruel man, 
doing such evil 
to an intelligent 
and gentle creature. 
He made you sick, 
and finally you threw up, 
casting him upon the shore. 

Then, you swam back, 
into that cold darkness, 
your purpose fulfilled. 
But later, 
you must have wondered, 
with indignation, 
if the lesson taught 
would have been taught 
more effectively 
if the nasty man 
had been born 
with your gaping mouth 
and had been enticed 
to swallow you.