I bought the tickets

They came with warnings

“Required forms, complete before departure”

They announce it again before we board

“Required forms, come to the desk

If you did not fill them out online.”

It keeps what should not arrive where it instead belongs.

I wondered what tourist would travel

Laden with soil, roots, and worms,

What insects, live animals

What kind of shorts-attired tourist

Ready for endless sunshine in paradise

Would hide live animals on their person

These are strange prohibitions to stash

Underneath a swimsuit and sunscreen.

They play a short film on approach

A reminder that the islands are sacred

A plea to respect the sanctuary

Preserve its bounty for those it was taken from.

And at the very end of the long walk out

At the last possible moment to intervene

To prevent another mongoose-level disaster

Before whatever is brought uninvited exits the door

Sits an amnesty bin

Politely, silently inviting

“Just put it here.

No one has to know.

We won’t tell.

Leave it here, and nothing bad will happen.

Please.”

I marveled at the hopefulness of it

A box to place your intended sins

Before they spread disaster.

I have not forgotten the holiness of it

The signage designed to invite

Instead of accuse

Sacred space created by a human need for protection

A bin that simply asks

“Do no harm. Please.”