Your Own Travel Destination

Today's stream of thought ... yup!

I am an island,

where the sun beats down, 

the waves come and go 

and I remain. 

Storms are

witnessed face up, 

while rooted deep within.

I am an island 

in the city 

observing mice and men

coming, 

going,

daily routine, 

off to work 

for the machine.

Flitting between sky rises

stealing my sun

but not for long,

not for this island.

Standing idle 

on the pavement 

in peak hour, 

others mindlessly 

connecting with their phones.

Connecting! With! Their! Phones!

Rushing 

hither, 

thither,

sighing,

grunting,

pushing,

shoving,

messing, 

with me the island.

I am an island 

witnessing atrocity 

across the planet 

but it won’t effect me, 

I am an island

I choose my battleground of thought.

I am an island, 

connecting only when I need,

learning acceptance in totality 

of all - yes all. 

They say love is an infinite ocean 

take it, take it

make the cycle 

it yours to keep,

just pass it on.

And I am an island

with love flowing all around me 

splashing my sides, 

begging for attention,

spilling forth at high tide, 

flirting at a distance in the low.

And yet,
I am an island 

standing back, 

taking in the view 

of the mess we have made 

How much of it can be 

undone,

redone,

retouched,

manipulated 

to change the course of not only history, 

but of evolution?

There will always be the yin and yang

the balance between all.

The push, the pull,

the good, the bad,

the ups, the downs,

the war, the peace. 

All fundamental to existence 

And yet …

I am an island. 

Reviews

[APOORVA]

beautiful and immensely stirring

[mercy party]

this poem had a certain unique tempo to it. I have always loved the I am an Island theme. this poem could easily cause great discussion. I felt like as if the author had a love for observing but maybe felt left out, but not too left out. Excellent!

[KWP]

hey mercy ... funnily enough I wrote it in one of my rare 'everything is s**t' moments ... so I think you are spot on ... cheers for the read :D XXX

[mercy party]

"everything is s**t" moments, they are the best! cheers back!

[Great Aunt Astri]

Yes, when you detach yourself, sometimes you have a much better vision. Also it is often a very safe place as your poem indicates. I love the changes in pace. Good read

[Beccy]

John Donne once wrote, 'no man is an island.'

I think with this poem you have shown us the flip side; that despite we are better together than apart, we need a certain measure of disconnection, if only to maintain some sanity in a world gone mad.

The whole is a thought provoking write; and the third and fourth stanzas (in my view,) are outstanding.

Beccy.

[Brittany Zedalis]

Wow. This is very insightful and has a very nice rhythm. I think we've all felt this way before.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

KWP,
Your first line is really a doozy! It sets up the whole poem. We do feel so separate yet definitly affected by all the happenings around us. "The push, the pull, the good, the bad- ups, downs, war, peace." This poem is layered in meaning. You have spoke to the layers of meaning to we in our modern world. I loved it! Bless you so much. Kathy

[KWP]

Hey Kathy - yes I think the whole poem could be reduced to just that first line :D

Bless you right back lovely one X

[Einstein Noodle]

seems you are a bit heavy in the head this morning my friend ;) your poem makes me think that an island is not so bad when ones survival depends on it .. the sacrifice of Jesus counted ..but i'm afraid if the bad came to destroy me i would be want to embrace those brothers or sisters ..sacrificial me would not cause a splash, let alone a ripple ..i think i would have to resist ;)
you've got me thinking island girl!
E.

[KWP]

you know what - I was heavy in the mind last week - so much so it was driving me nuts! I did however recognise the mind shift, I did stand back and observe it, I did watch it pass (oh so slowly) ... I think it's important to realise we all have these moments, but even more important to just allow them to pass on by ... I feel awesome now ... especially after a gym session with Jords :D X

[Einstein Noodle]

meditation gives us that very fine tool for sure ..lots of feelings attached to our thoughts .. let one go so goes the other .. and then exercise ... perfect combo for healthy living ..giving up some good vibes for you .. love and peace!

[Shabeeh Haider]

We may to be an island but the waves of circumstances and chance will keep striking at our shores and will break our resistance.
You have said all that everyone feels at different moments in time.
I especially love these lines:

"How much of it can be
undone,
redone,
retouched,
manipulated
to change the course of not only history,
but of evolution?"

[KWP]

Hey Shabeeh,

Nice to meet you, even nicer to hear from you, and yes, I agree with your comments above - we are all islands, but we can also be surrounded by as little or as much love as we allow in :D thank you X

[andrew mitchell]

We are only given that luxury of being an island when our bigger island Earth is doing okay! Its nice to have our space, gives that feeling that no other outside problems exist! Merry Xmas Elizabeth to you and family.:)

[KWP]

and Merry Christmas to you too my friend - looks to be a nice day up our side - and you?

[andrew mitchell]

too damn hot for us unless we had a pool and air con which we don't!

[KWP]

oh man ... beach time :)

I was just snorkelling just right now ... delicious X

[andrew mitchell]

lucky you ,are you holidaying liz

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i feel the same way...although i have some people close to me who are stranded on that same island you describe...

and we all wonder why and how we got here...

shipwrecked from a world gone amok...

i relate....too much to this....

[KWP]

I think we all feel like a bit of an island at times - this sprung forth last week when I was feeling especially lost at sea - I observed how I was feeling very closely - it's good to observe and watch the thoughts and moments pass X Thanks Jacob for the read X