The Island Within

“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.