Leviathan

The fifth day will be engraved in my mind until
The Time to come. It was the day my mate and I 
Were conceived in a turbulent watery womb.
It was Genesis and we lived our early lives in a
Marvelous mess of maritime mayhem,
A chaotic creation of biblical proportions.
And God wanted us to help him with Harmony,
To protect the oppressed from their enemy.
How could this be? We were soaked in Ferocity.
But as the saying goes and to paraphrase God—

It’s all Good.

But alas, the seas were not large enough
To hold both us and our offspring. The power
Of a strong, good mate and mother-to-be
Should not be underestimated. She needed to be
Destroyed. I would be on my own. God help me.
Because the primeval world would have been over
Before it had truly begun and the mania of mankind
Was yet to come. I’ll miss my mate, but I have
God’s work to do. Work that would be easier
Divided between two. But anything worth doing
Should be demanding, challenging. Like the raging sea.
Brutal but beautiful. Just like me. It pains me to say—

It’s all Good.

My mission in life is to fight. My jaws open wide
To take a bloody bite. My bloated brain rebels,
But my sea-worthy soul sings out with satisfaction
As I rip out my rivals’ entrails, sending them 
Whirling like worms through the wicked waves.
I’m fixed to be friendless. My power is endless.
The sea is dark and God is my light.
And I need him to show me the way—

 It’s all Good.

Descriptions differ but all agree I’m a colossal creature
Of the sea. I ingest the jargon of all great books, as if they
Were a collection of fish swimming in schools.
I’m a well-read legend in my own mind. Words,
Salty and tasty, linger on my sea serpent’s tongue.
I could be Melville’s Moby or swallow Jonah easily. 
But I’m mightier and meaner, and whales are not my style. 
Others see me as a gigantic crocodile swimming down the Nile. 
I might be a multi-headed malicious monster with 
Glowing green eyes that search the seas for God’s enemies. 
Some think I’m a water dragon. I could make the seas boil
From my burning hot temper. I’m just bad because I’m mad. 
I fight for what is right. Call me a juggernaut of justice.
It disturbs me that I’m often misread, a creature to dread.
How can I be bad with God’s brilliant power within me?
Confidently I can say, 'Battle me & you’ll soon be dead.' 
So please blame my conceit on my waterlogged head
And know—

It’s all Good.

I’m tired of being a wet and wearied warrior, 
Testing God’s waters for the Tides of Change, 
Hoping for Waves of Tranquility to calm me a bit. 
Why don’t I deserve respect? Lord knows I need it.
I fear how humanity will be judged in the Time to Come. 
Let’s pray Goodness overflows the world 
So that I’m no longer the beast and my flesh 
Becomes a dessert delicacy delivered at a feast.
But until then, I’ll remain deep in my dark seas
Growing beyond old, shifting as my story distorts, 
And becoming what is being told.
But don’t mold me into what I’m not. I’m not all bad. 
I’m only a lonely, love-hungry leviathan 
Dying to be understood—

Alas… it’s all Good.  


Elaine J Fisher © 2022