Being Jonah

Oil on paper

30 by 40 cms

I hide in this body. I hide in food. I hide in glory, and self-abnegation. I hide in wine, in love and in lust. I hide in children, in bottles and exhaustion and nappies. I hide in dogs and cats. I hide in Pakistan. I hide in books, and the never-ending busyness of universities and courses.

It’s an easy game for you, finding me, overturning my fragile barrows of dreams, and laughing, but kindly.

I try hiding in paint, but the paint speaks, sings: holy, holy, hallelujah.

Brush in hand, I give up. Lord, here I am.