Island Life

In
Out
In
Out

Breath.

Remember island life?

Not the tourists' pretend days
of luxury and carelessness
but children in crisp school uniforms
chickens running through the yard
coco bread cooling on the window ledge
and blue sky
pale yellow sheets in the morning breeze
greying clapboards and peeling paint

Remember before the steel and glass hotels lined every inch of beach?
Before pink skins laid across lounge chairs and burned;
their inhabitants calling
"Girl, yes, you. Bring a scotch, plenty of ice;
I don't know how you people stand this inferno"

I remember those cool mornings
when my 15 year-old feet walked slow enough
for you to catch up;
slow enough to find your smile
lagging just a little behind my hopes.

Remember way back to your pressed pants
and polished shoes,
both handed down from your rascal brother.

I can hear pawpaw calling out my name from the doorway
and see the look in your eyes when I step onto the porch.
I was the full sum of your mind
back then.

Can you remember those days before Desmond discovered
that if he swam a 1/2 mile out from the shoreline
he could meet the tour boats
full of drunken revelers on holiday?
Back before he tried that very first time to dive down
as they tossed coins overboard
shouting "deeper, deeper - look at that boy go.
Toss him another, let's see it again"

Before Jimmy, Sonny, Nelson and you joined him
and began to bark like hungry seals;
Loud and guttural sounds
to catch the rich vacationers' attention;
for tossed coins
you suppress the need for air
to the cheers of cold-hearted onlookers.

Those red-brown coins
color of your hands
that buy shoes for our children
and too many beers for your drink
coins that pay for too many red-lipped, smooth-legged women
with soft brown hands
that do for your manhood what these calloused, ragged and worn hands cannot
but the rage running through
your river of veins is never completely assuaged.
No, there is always a little bit of that left for me, eh?

In
Out
In
Out

Breath.

The sun is red in the evening sky
the callaloo has cooled
and the children are ready for bed
In a hour or so I will light the lantern
place it in the window
and search the stars for sleep.