Ode to Island Time: A Eulogy - Martin Dabon

It’s been a year since you sailed, Jimmy.

On the shore, we’ve had to stay.

But the drinks are still strong

despite the time you’ve been away.

We pour them tall the way you preferred,

but beers, burgers, and daiquiris

aren’t as sweet since the Last Mango was last heard.

You’re cruising on a different boat now, where it’s forever 5 o’clock.

Come Monday, we’ll be missing you, 

but you’re off on vacation, while we wait on the dock.

Soon enough, the wind will take us past the buoys and beyond,

and there better be cold margaritas

waiting for me on your side of the pond.

You made us want to live like a song,

to slow down and enjoy the breeze, the open seas, the ocean water up to our knees,

to be unashamed that we yearn for a life of ease.

It was sentiments such as these

which drew us to your rhythm,

made us fruit cakes want to match it.

So please, I tried to keep it short and sweet like a sangria sip,

but this is farewell,

as you coast on your eternal trip.

Martin Dabon is a post-baccalaureate student at Fresno State studying to teach English as a second language overseas. He graduated with a bachelor's in English Education in 2022 and has since earned a credential to teach English Language Arts at the K-12 level in California. When he's not in a classroom, either running it as a teacher or learning as a student, he's working on his poetry and prose to improve as a creative writer.