I’m scared

I’ll admit

Of what lies just beyond my little bubble.

My own island

Note how it is not luxury

Nor is it private

So I hide things

In holes I’ve dug

And in caves hollowed out by water splashing against rock

Chipping away at the sediment

My island has been invaded

By the very same people

That gifted it to me

It’s ours

They argue

Everything on this island is ours

Including you

If I fight back they’ll know

I’ve hidden things

But if I allow them entry

It’ll be even more criminalizing

And I’m not sure which is worse

What you do here affects us

They say

But how does my island affect you

I ask

It does

They say

We own this island

We gave it to you

They don’t realize that by giving someone something 

You give up your claim to it

This is my island

I’ll say

They don’t like that

They’ve placed sharks in the water

So I can’t escape

Find a better island

Or improve my island

You desecrate your land

They say

Tear down those fruited trees

Rip up the flowers

Let your island lay raw and barren

I’d plant more fruiting trees and flowers

Just to see their faces

I’d have a party

With fruit punch

And intricate dances

The brightest fires

So they may see

How I’ve surpassed them

And when the last sip has been taken

The last step done

The last embers fizzled out

They will criticize what I’ve done with the place

It’s horrendous

They’ll say

Disgusting

With how I’ve made my mark

You’ll never be able to go back

They say

I’ll laugh

Offer them fruit punch

And when they say they’d rather have water

I’ll set the sharks upon them

And history might claim me evil

Or praise me a god

I’ll know the truth

Of islands

That aren’t so luxurious

That aren’t private at all

That can be taken away

And I will cry

Sea-salt tears

That splash an ocean

With water to carve out caves

So others might hide their things