The Island

Island life does have its charms The constant sun, the steady breeze Nothing ever happens here Few are those who do not fall beneath the spell It?s language is an orphan branch But one that I can understand Its cadence is familiar It shares the old declension from the continent I came here with a package deal Everything all prearranged Three nights at the Grand Hotel Where all the rooms have ocean views By latitude and longitude Mariners will not arrive Its coordinates are plotted By its relative position to the rising sea The lucky few who call it home Are prosperous and confident And they manifest a certainty That, come what may, things will not be otherwise (Chorus) But time is on the ocean?s side The beaches shift, the cliffs erode Though the engineers do what they can Everyday another house just slides away (Chorus) --- The Island - Richard Shindell