The Island Within

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 2012

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Related Poems

“América” by Richard Blanco (1998)

“América” is a poem about the speaker’s Cuban-American experience. This poem makes for a useful comparison to “The Island Within” to understand Blanco’s experience as a Cuban exile and an immigrant.

“Island of Tears” by Ruth Behar (2018)

“Island of Tears” is a poem written by Ruth Behar about her exile from Cuba. “The Island Within” is dedicated to Behar, and this poem reveals her own personal feelings surrounding her exile from her home country.

“On Immigration” by Prageeta Sharma (2007)

Sharma’s “On Immigration” is a poem that depicts how it feels to be an immigrant. While the poem is very different in mood, tone, and overall message to “The Island Within,” the contrasts between the two poems reveal different perceptions of the stark everyday realities those who live in America as immigrants must face.

“One Today” by Richard Blanco (2013)

Arguably Blanco’s most famous and well-known poem, Blanco wrote “One Today” for the 57th Presidential Inauguration for Barack Obama on January 21, 2013. The poem depicts an image of a country full of people from many different backgrounds.

Further Literary Resources

“My Havana” by Ruth Behar (2009)

This 2009 essay offers a glimpse into Behar’s feelings about Cuba. Blanco dedicates “The Island Within” to Behar, and Behar’s essay illuminates her emotional connection to her homeland. Written in the tone of a love letter, Behar describes the city of Havana in enthusiastic detail, offering readers a visual display as well as a historical summary of the city’s existence.

“How to Love a Country”: A Discussion with Richard Blanco (2019)

In this episode of the “On Being” podcast with Krista Tippet, Blanco discusses what it means to love a country, a theme he often explores in his poetry. This episode includes both a discussion of this theme as well as readings from Blanco’s books and poems.

“Richard Blanco: How I Write”: An Interview with The Writer Magazine (2020)

In this interview and the accompanying article, Blanco shares his thoughts on writing. He muses on such topics as how poetry is taught, how to begin a poem, and prose as compared to poetry. This short piece offers insight into Blanco’s writing and thinking processes as a poet.