IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A TROPIC ISLAND OF YOUR OWN
YOU MUST CHOOSE A STRETCH OF OCEAN IN THE SEMI-TROPIC ZONE
SEVERAL DAYS FROM SAN FRANCISCO IN THE GENERAL SOUTHWEST LINE
WITH THE BALMY TRADE WINDS BLOWING, WHERE THE CLIMATE'S SUPER FINE.
THERE YOU PLANT A LOFTY MOUNTAIN ROOTED ON THE OCEAN'S FLOOR
WITH IT'S SUMMIT JUTTING UPWARDS TWENTY THOUSAND FEET OR MORE
SO THAT THE PEAKS OF MIGHTY STATURE STAND AGAINST THE SUMMER SKY
STABBING CLOUDS WITH BROKEN SPEARHEADS WHEN THE SUNSETS BLAZE AND DIE.
GET A WELL-BEHAVED VOLCANO THAT CAN STAGE A GORGEOUS SHOW
WITH A BUNCH OF USELESS COUNTRY WHERE THE LAVA FLOWS CAN GO.
PLAN A FEW MILD, MINOR EARTHQUAKES, NOTHING DRASTIC, CRUDE OR ROUGH,
JUST A SHUDDERED UNDULATION ONCE A YEAR WOULD BE ENOUGH.
CLOTHE THE MOUNTAIN SLOPES WITH JUNGLE FROM THE SEASHORE TO THE TOP
WITH LOTS OF CLIFFS AND VALLEYS WHERE GREAT WATERFALLS CAN DROP,
MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SOME RAINBOWS, BOTH THE DAY AND LUNAR SORTS.
FILL THE SEAS WITH SCHOOLS OF FISHES FOR THE PLEASURE OF THE SPORTS.
STOCK THE COUNTRYSIDE WITH PHEASANTS, BOARS AND TURKEYS, SHEEP AND GOATS,
LET THE TREES BE FULL OF SONGBIRDS SPILLING MUSIC FROM THEIR THROATS.
BRING IN VINES AND SHRUBS AND BUSHES BEARING LUSCIOUS JUICY FRUITS.
LET THE SOIL BE RICH AND FERTILE YIELDING FOOD FOR MEN AND BRUTES.
SCATTER SEEDS AND SLIPS AND CUTTINGS FROM THE FLOWERS OF ALL LANDS.
BLOOMING IN SUCH MAD PROFUSION THAT A THOUSAND EAGER HANDS
COULD NOT STRIP THEIR PERFUMED BOUNTY IF THEY WORKED FROM MORN 'TIL NIGHT.
HAVE A MOON OF GOLDEN SPLENDOR SPILLING MOLTEN AMBER LIGHT.
HAVE THE SOUTHERN CROSS SUSPENDED LIKE A TALISMAN ON HIGH.
HAVE A MILLION-MILLION-MILLION GLEAMING STARS STREWN ON THE SKY.
CHOOSE THE PEOPLE FOR YOUR ISLAND FROM A POLYNESIAN RACE,
HAPPY NATIVES SKILLED IN LEASURE, FULL OF MIRTH AND JOY AND GRACE.
LET THE DAYS BE RULED BY LAUGHTER AND THE NIGHTS BE SWEET WITH SONG,
LET THE YEARS SLIP BY UNHEEDED WITH THIS FRIENDLY HAPPY THRONG.
. . . . . . . .
IF YOU HAVEN'T TIME OR MONEY FOR THE PLAN I'VE JUST DISPLAYED,
BUY A TICKET TO HAWAII~~THERE ARE ISLANDS READY-MADE
WITH THE CHARMS THAT I HAVE OUTLINED. IF YOU'LL TAKE MY SAGE ADVISE
YOU WON'T WAIT TO GO TO HEAVEN FOR A LIFE IN PARADISE.
Don Blanding
