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Prairie Schooner 80.4 (2006) 85-88

Jonah on Oprah, and: Dear Swallowed, and: You Weren't There
Marilyn Kallet

Jonah on Oprah

"I've lived through gut-wrenching
remorse, got swallowed up by it.

Now I understand I can't run
from my problems.

I bear witness, whales blow
worse blubber-breath than my boss,

all undigested krill!
I pay attention,

take my medication,
do as told.

I've boarded up the souvenir shop
in Ninevah. No more scrimshaw.

Whales endangered.
I'm not gloating.

I water my spindly plants
until I near-drown them.

Voices? Only on the tube.
I prefer Law and Order, [End Page 85]

and though she's abrasive
as the Negev, Judge Judy.

I just love watching idiots scramble,
try to argue, try to flee!"

Dear Swallowed

If the
low heavy
cover
seems to surround you

you may be trapped
inside a large mammal
First, check to see
if this is

a metaphor:
can you gasp?
Do you spot sky
through a blowhole?

If yes
then we recommend
the Pinocchio
pepper spray [End Page 86]

your cover's
blown
in a good way
if dry land

also weighs down
then you may be
locked
in the grip of long ennui

Prozac, Wellbutrin,
these will ease
the blubbery aftertaste
the spleenish

hangover you think of
as being,
without sexual side effects
as if, at your age.

Caution: do not drive
if you're Ishmael
and Ahab's in back
on his cell

trailed by copfish
you're moseying
     the white whale
down the Alameda freeway. [End Page 87]

You Weren't There

Charlie adored me.
He made me sexy.

Screwed my brains out.
No one saw.

We did it in the empty
cells. I got disciplined twice

for leaving clerical
sneaking to cell block.

He handed me the leash and ordered me
to walk the prisoner.

He took pics.
So what?

He was God.
I wanted to keep him.

He refused to use condoms.
Now we have a son.

Why did he marry that bitch Megan?
Did you catch the snap of him and me

tanning in Rhiad? We were happy!
He didn't make me do anything.

We made a baby.
He'll come back.

Marilyn Kallet is the author of twelve books, including Circe, After Hours (BkMk), which is reviewed in this issue, and a new translation of Paul Eluard's Last Love Poems (Commonwealth/Black Widow).

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