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.”
