Jonah

Jonah.

One moment the house is all lit up.

The next it is plunged

into darkness

as though hit with a heart attack.

I scramble around the black cavern

of the sitting room

for the door handle.

I have to get out

amongst the stars

out with my beautiful garden,

the pig weed and the white magnolias.

I sit down on my little bench

by the birdbath

and catch my breath.

Now I knew how Jonah felt

when swallowed by that whale.