Lucille Clifton




ninevah: waiting

everything here will grow ocean-wise,
even the man, sea-wall strong,
here where Leviathan 
will spit him out one day
a half-dead, luke-warm thing.

though he will turn inland
away from the terrible journey,
away from this unloved city,
he will find that even its memory

will cling, like salt,
to every thing.