I Wish I Had an Island | Teen Ink

I Wish I Had an Island MAG

June 9, 2021
By Lydiaq ELITE, Somonauk, Illinois
Lydiaq ELITE, Somonauk, Illinois
172 articles 54 photos 1026 comments

Favorite Quote:
The universe must be a teenage girl. So much darkness, so many stars.
--me


I want to build myself a lake isle, 

I want to build myself a boat, 

I want to build sunshine, 

I want to build a day of endless hours.

Welcome to my island, 

in the plashless, soft-hearted, mama-warm, rippling, tender blue lake rippling with the  ripples of my oars. 

Welcome to my island. 

I have built a cabin here, 

and when the winter comes and bees  fly home, 

I will skate on the lake, I will skate away.

Welcome to my island, 

welcome to my pine trees sticky with sap, welcome to my sparrows and honeysuckle and soapy-smelling violets in my  windowpane, 

welcome to my island where dragonflies sail above my bed, 

fill my hands, fill my head — 

dragonflies in shimmering blue chrome.

If I die, it will be on my island. 

Here the mosquitos have lost their stings and apple biscuits drenched with milk and honey 

are served for breakfast — 

forever and ever, amen. 

I will come back to my island — it will come back to me.


The author's comments:

Inspired by William Butler Yeats' "Lake Isle of Innesfree." The word plashless is from an Emily Dickenson poem.


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This article has 10 comments.


on Feb. 12 at 3:36 pm
On_A_Journey SILVER, Sparks, Nevada
5 articles 3 photos 121 comments

Favorite Quote:
Not all those who wander are lost- J.R.R Tolkien

Can I come to your island? 😉 Beautiful poem! Good job getting into the magazine!

on Feb. 17 2022 at 5:24 pm
LiteraryMe PLATINUM, Dayton, Ohio
41 articles 19 photos 519 comments

Favorite Quote:
“The earth has music for those who listen.” —William Shakespeare

Isn't this what everyone wants? The ultimate dream? It certainly is mine. All the best to finding your island :)
P.S. Emily Dickinson is one of my favorites

on Jan. 4 2022 at 6:23 am
Lisa-Mary-Paul PLATINUM, Copenhagen, Other
44 articles 16 photos 58 comments

Favorite Quote:
BeYOUtiful ✨

congrats on getting maggggg!!!!!! it's my dream... :)

on Sep. 20 2021 at 2:59 pm
Crazywolfiegirl2 PLATINUM, Kington, Other
26 articles 3 photos 284 comments

Favorite Quote:
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature—the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter. —Rachel Carson

This is amazing. Well done for getting mag!

on Aug. 14 2021 at 12:44 pm
SparrowSun ELITE, X, Vermont
200 articles 23 photos 1053 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It Will Be Good." (complicated semi-spiritual emotional story.)

"Upon his bench the pieces lay
As if an artwork on display
Of gears and hands
And wire-thin bands
That glisten in dim candle play." -Janice T., Clockwork[love that poem, dont know why, im not steampunk]

oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my goish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ur mag!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

on Aug. 8 2021 at 8:19 pm
Rsnail-925 PLATINUM, Boulder, Colorado
29 articles 11 photos 106 comments

Favorite Quote:
A story has as many versions as it has readers - Winter Of Our Discontent

This is a really creative, meaningful poem. Well done Lydiaq!

on Jun. 19 2021 at 8:38 pm
SparrowSun ELITE, X, Vermont
200 articles 23 photos 1053 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It Will Be Good." (complicated semi-spiritual emotional story.)

"Upon his bench the pieces lay
As if an artwork on display
Of gears and hands
And wire-thin bands
That glisten in dim candle play." -Janice T., Clockwork[love that poem, dont know why, im not steampunk]

nah, youres is eally good. i was just half asleep and dreaming into my keyboard, spinoff dream of your poem.

Lydiaq ELITE said...
on Jun. 19 2021 at 7:19 pm
Lydiaq ELITE, Somonauk, Illinois
172 articles 54 photos 1026 comments

Favorite Quote:
The universe must be a teenage girl. So much darkness, so many stars.
--me

Oh gorgeous! Maybe you could write your own poem bout this.

on Jun. 18 2021 at 10:04 pm
SparrowSun ELITE, X, Vermont
200 articles 23 photos 1053 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It Will Be Good." (complicated semi-spiritual emotional story.)

"Upon his bench the pieces lay
As if an artwork on display
Of gears and hands
And wire-thin bands
That glisten in dim candle play." -Janice T., Clockwork[love that poem, dont know why, im not steampunk]

mmmm if only that were real... it was sooo perfect. if I made an island, it would be flat with no forests, only a willow tree and a sakura tree. the shores would be golden and sandy, covered in sea shells, and the house would be simple. a room for each of my pets, a bedroom, and an office to write in. there would be a stream filled with tiny trickling waterfalls that you could fall asleep listening to and hammocks beside it to fall asleep on. i think imoff topic.. beautiful poem!

on Jun. 18 2021 at 9:56 pm
SparrowSun ELITE, X, Vermont
200 articles 23 photos 1053 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It Will Be Good." (complicated semi-spiritual emotional story.)

"Upon his bench the pieces lay
As if an artwork on display
Of gears and hands
And wire-thin bands
That glisten in dim candle play." -Janice T., Clockwork[love that poem, dont know why, im not steampunk]

mmmm if only that were real... it was sooo perfect. if I made an island, it would be flat with no forests, only a willow tree and a sakura tree. the shores would be golden and sandy, covered in sea shells, and the house would be simple. a room for each of my pets, a bedroom, and an office to write in. there would be a stream filled with tiny trickling waterfalls that you could fall asleep listening to and hammocks beside it to fall asleep on. i think imoff topic.. beautiful poem!