Island Hopping

ISLAND HOPPING by JOHN M. ARRIBAS My first day of community service at Glen Oaks Assigned to spend time with a few elderly folks Spotted an old gentleman staring out into space Weathered beaten hands and a sun etched face How are you today old timer, as I grasp his hand A firm grip followed from a once powerful man I had just returned from an island hopping trip Told him about the islands and the fabulous ship I went to St. Croix, St. Martins and Martinique Stopped at Montserrat to overlook the peak So many activities hardly any time to sleep Shore excursions great, unbelievably cheap The old gentleman turned and looked away Choked up on something he started to say Room fell silent for the longest spell Son, I took a voyage that’s so hard to tell It started and ended in the cauldrons of hell Then sighed so quietly as the tear drops fell My pals and I went on an island hopping trip Sleeping on the deck on an overcrowded ship First stop was at a place called Guadalcanal There was so much noise, a percussion chorale The local occupants got upset at our arrival Just getting ashore was a matter of survival All we wanted was to use their landing strip We were so insistent, they left, gave us the slip ISLAND HOP (2) Next stop was an atoll, place called Tarawa Desolate, awaiting brave mens soul to devour We had a difficult time getting onto the beach Tides were low, corals too shallow to breach The locals didn’t take kindly to our arrival Being denied admittance just wasn’t our style Next stops were Kwajalein, Saipan and Peleliu At each and every landing we left quite a few Inhabitants of these isles were a hostile horde Yet our perseverance could not be ignored We combed every inch in our search to achieve Removal of the objectors, there was no reprieve We overcame the objections to our presence Committing these isles to perpetual reverence Most hostile place was an island called Iwo Soft sands made progress unbearably slow Sinking sands made firm ground hard to reach We left great numbers, still, on the beach It took great courage to get over the dune Each attempt exposed by a cloudless moon Valor and bravery continuously put on display Total commitment was the order of the day A planned six day excursion took sixty days Hard to evict the denizens out of the caves Some of these folks were so hard headed Sealed up the entrances, left them embedded Our single purpose for “ Super Forts” to reach More than paid for by those left on the beach Island hopping seems innocent phrase to say Boils down to how much one is willing to pay