Consequences

Contest entry
Lighthouse Poetry
August Contest


Prompt: Write about Jonah. Must rhyme.

Consequences

Nineveh, Nineveh, I refuse to go to Nineveh!
The people there are a pagan race, vile and murderous, without a trace of mercy.
These children of the King Nimrod don’t even worship the One True God. Why mercy?
Enemies of our people, Lord, destroy them all of one accord. No mercy!
To Tarshish I will go instead. So, Jonah ran; indeed, he fled God’s mercy.

Jonah sailed aboard a ship. Soon they were in a storm’s fierce grip.
God’s in control of this fateful trip!
Jonah was hurled overboard. He cried to God, “Please save me, Lord!
Your command I have ignored.
I will go there, as you wish, though, it is a bitter dish.”
Then, he was swallowed by a fish!

For three days, Jonah had time to think in the dark, amidst the stink,
Without a thing to eat or drink.
He repented and he prayed, and no doubt, he was afraid.
Then the fish God’s will displayed.
The fish did spit old Jonah out. He changed his wayward, sullen route,
And made his way-there was no doubt-to Nineveh.

Know mercy!


18 lines