In the belly of the fish

After Jonah 1:17 – 2:10 

By my own will,

my own mistakes,

I found myself

in the belly of a fish.

 

The smell, the stench,

the acids staining my skin,

I brought upon myself

in the belly of the fish.

 

In the depths of despair,

in the clutch of fear,

I did only what I knew

in the belly of the fish.

 

I appealed to mercy,

I appealed to memory,

I appealed in worship,

in the belly of the fish.

 

My plea was heard,

my prayer was accepted,

and I was catapulted from

the belly of the fish.

 

Photograph by Todd Cravens via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

At Thirteen: A Poem Inspired Across Generations – Lucia Haase at Society of Classical Poets.

 

A Liturgy for When the House Feels Too Full of Children – Millie Sweeney at Story Warren.