Alone On a Tropical Island
How I got here, I have no clue. I do remember being on a cruise.
Passengers were walking, talking, and watching the cerulean blue sea sparkling.
Intrigued by the total awesomeness, I climbed on a thin ledge for a better view.
Everything else is one big blur. Now, here I sit surrounded by white hot dry sand.
Alone, I am all alone. I see some palm trees and a few shrubs, but they are far away.
I have no idea what I am going to eat. I am getting thirsty and there is only salt water.
I do see a few butterflies at play. There must be flowers with nectar; where, I wonder?
Now, I see a pocket gopher peeking out of his safe, shady underground home.
That is what I need, shelter from the scorching sun. And, I am thirsty, oh, so thirsty.
Maybe there are coconuts on those trees; I could eat coconuts and drink the milk.
When a cool tropical breeze begins to blow, I’ll head over to those distant trees.
What will I do? How will I survive without supplies, or tools, not one helpful thing?
Ah, a breeze at last. I’ll take a quick swim in the sea and then, head for the trees.
Oh, what a blessing! Yes! There are coconuts on the tree and many on the ground.
Smacking two coconuts together with all of my strength…payday! The first one cracked.
The warm liquid felt great on my dry mouth. Now, to eat the meat with only a stick –
The sticks and husks under the tree will make a good fire. I’ll start it with this flint I found.
Tonight, I will sleep under the stars; tomorrow I will build my shelter and make some tools.
I rested very well, except for mosquitoes. I noticed one bush with no mosquitoes near.
Beauty berry plants! The crushed leaves make a good repellant.
Now for my shelter –
Dried palm trees put across the two sister-sand-dunes with palm fronds covering,
Whalah! A roof! Palm frond on the back wall and the entrance… a shaded hut.
Evidently, there was a tropical storm sometime back and that was my blessing.
Supplies! Oh, a rock with a sharp point on it and a few straight sticks laying around,
Using vines, the rock, and 5 ft. stick, I can make a spear for fishing. I wish I had a hook.
A short stick, vine-twine, and a smaller rock, I’ll make a hammer to crack the coconuts.
I arranged coconut shell halves in the sand to collect water during rains.
Confident that I could survive long enough to be rescued … maybe even longer,
I took coconut wood and husks down to the beach for a fire signal; then, prayed.
1/14/2017
Copyright © Dane Ann Smith-Johnsen | Year Posted 2017
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