Iyonola

Skinny dips in the shade on hot afternoons. Snorkelling in unison with little squadrons of neon squid. Snacking at the bar of the Naked Fisherman. Sailing high Caribbean winds off Rodney Bay with its old rum port and Signal Peak.

A couple of arcadian weeks later, we took a bumpy track to the South of the Island and Tet Rouge. We passed under then climbed over the sheer exclamations of the two Pitons, Gros and Petit, and idled for hours amongst tropical blooms at Diamond Falls. With Vision, we climbed dew-lapped, forested slopes of Mount Gimie to spy the island’s shy orioles and parrots. Our dear, clear-eyed and lucid island oracle. He knew we’d leave and foretold a return. One day I hope I’ll fulfil his prophecy.