·evan·
howwonderfulareislands!islandsinspace，likethisoneicometo，ringedaboutbymilesofwater，linkedbynobridges，nocables，notelephones.anislandfromtheworldandtheworld’slife.islandsintime，likethisshortvacationofmine.thepastandthefuturearecutoff：onlythepresentremains.oneliveslikeachildorasaintintheimmediacyofhereandnow.everyday，everyact，isanisland，washedbytimeandspace，andhasanisland’scompletion.people，too，becomelikeislandsinsuchanatmosphere，self-contained，wholeandserene；respectingotherpeople’ssolitude，notintrudingontheirshores，standingbackinreverencebeforethemiracleofanotherindividual.“nomanisanisland，”saidjohndonne.ifeelweareallislands—inacommonsea.
weareall，inthelastanalysis，alone.andthisbasicstateofsolitudeisnotsomethingwehaveanychoiceabout.itis，asthepoetrilkesays，“notsomethingthatonecantakeorleave”.wearesolitary.wemaydeludeourselvesandactasthoughthiswerenotso，yes，eventobeginbyassumingit.“naturally，”hegoesontosay，“wewillturngiddy.”
weseemsofrightenedtodayofbeingalonethatweneverletithappen.eveniffamily，friendsandmoviesshouldfail，thereisstilltheradioortelevisiontofillupthevoid.women，whousedtocomplainofloneliness，needneverbealoneanymore.wecandoourhouseworkwithsoap-operaheroesatourside.evenday-dreamingwasmorecreativethanthis；itdemandedsomethingofoneselfanditfedtheinnerlife.nowinsteadofplantingoursolitudewithourdreamblossoms，we
chokethespacewithcontinuousmusic，chatterandcompanionshiptowhichwedonotevenlisten.itissimplytheretofillthevacuum.whenthenoisestopsthereis