The Island Within

The island is a key symbol in “The Island Within.” The island of the title represents the island of Cuba. However, the island as a symbol is more than a reference to Cuba. The island also represents a place “you still call home” (Line 33) that no longer exists. Therefore, the speaker pities Behar in Line 31, as she is “still trying to reach / that unreachable island within the island” (Lines 31-32). The island is a symbol for nostalgia, longing, and desire, all of which can be satiated through sensory experiences like “cafecito” (Line 14), “homemade flan” (Line 15) and “conga beats” (Line 10), but never entirely fulfilled. Therefore, the elusive island is forever just out of reach, yet Behar and the speaker continue to seek it.

In Line 34, the speaker states, “I thought I was done / with Cuba, tired of filling in the blanks, / but now I’m not sure” (Lines 34-35). Unlike Behar, the speaker had distanced himself from Cuba; now, as he reflects on Behar’s longing for home, he realizes the island remains a cultural part of himself and he cannot help feeling drawn into a sense of nostalgia.