I sit in the belly
of a whale, play
house in its mouth
Run my fingers along
baleen plates, brush
through bristled rows
with a sledgehammer
I pretend it’s a beard
or drywall. I imagine
you had a beard, make
believe you knew how
to put up plasterboard
I picture Jonah having a hard
time with renovations, try
my hand at repainting pink
walls blue, entertain idea
this was your favourite
colour, build two armchairs
out of coral, live off krill
for seven weeks, get skinnier
than Ishmael on his coffin, carve
cushions from blubber floor, dry
hands on seaweed tea towel
do not bother with plumbing
I’ve heard whales flush
out most dead weight here
with just a swallow.
Sean West holds a BFA in Creative and Professional Writing. In 2019, he was shortlisted for the Thomas Shapcott Poetry Prize. He currently interns for Ruckus Slam Brisbane and co-produces Ruckus Youth. He also writes for Jawbreaker Zine and Lithium Magazine. Find more at www.callmemariah.com.