IF ONCE YOU HAVE SLEPT ON AN ISLAND

If once you have slept on an island
You'll never he quite the same,
You may look as you looked the day before
And go by the same old name.

You may hustle about in street or shop
You may sit at home and sew,
But you'll see blue water and wheeling gulls.
Wherever your feet may go.

You may chat with the neighbours of this and that
And close to your fire keep,
But you'll hear ships' whistle and lighthouse bell
And tides beat through your sleep.

Oh, you won't know why and you can't say how
Such a change upon you came,
But - once you have slept on an island
You'll never be quite the same.


Contributed by a mainland reader, authorship unknown.