God sent a man
to warn a city
great in its eyes.
But the man did not obey.
God sent a wind
to smash the ship
that harbored him.
The man did still not obey.
But the wind, and the sea,
most certainly did.
God sent a fish
to swallow the man
who to death so swam.
The man grudgingly obeyed.
But the fish did with great
gusto.
God sent a plant
to shade the man
from the day's hot sun.
The man was thankful.
And the plant obliged.
Then God sent a worm
to chew the plant
so it would die.
The worm did so obey.
And the man, beat to a faint
by the sun, and again the wind,
finally joined God’s obedient
menagerie.*
In the end,
God always
gets His way.
Jonah 1-3 |
