Island Sentiments

Sometimes I wonder why people who are not born by the sea or living near the coast always have a special attachment to the ocean. Whenever I travel, the first place I think of is the seaside, the islands, to feel the sound of the waves and the sea breeze. Although I have visited many islands before, my desire to go to islands has grown stronger in the past two years. I keep driving my car toward the islands, heading to Windmill Island in Quanzhou, Donghai Island and Naozhou Island in Zhanjiang, Weizhou Island in Beihai, Dong'ao Island in Zhuhai, and Nan'ao Island in Shantou. I go deep into the heart of the islands, observing their images, pondering their character, temperament, and sentiments. This is a natural affection and spiritual sustenance people have for islands; islands can release inner sorrows and express one’s thoughts and emotions. Each island has its own wind patterns, character, and temperament. Nan'ao Island is strong and resolute, like a vigilant frontline sentinel guarding the country’s maritime borders; Naozhou Island resembles an unyielding, ever-burning lighthouse, quietly and modestly guiding ships navigating at night; Weizhou Island is both beautiful and wise, like a bustling, lively sea city full of vitality; Windmill Island is like a tough, simple fisherwoman standing on a hill by the sea, eagerly awaiting the return of fully loaded fishing boats... Each island also has its own sentiments. In the early morning, the island is calm and peaceful, with the fiery red sun rising from the sea, lighting up the island in a crimson glow and making the seawater shimmer with golden light, presenting a beautiful dawn. Seagulls circle and call in the sky, sometimes soaring high, sometimes gliding low, as if singing a morning sea song, weaving a gray-white veil, or dancing for the fish in the sea. At noon, the island is warm and hot, sometimes feeling like being on a fiery island. The seawater rushes recklessly from the horizon toward the island cliffs, splashing up waves and making an exciting roar. That is the sea’s passion for the earth. At dusk, the island sees the setting sun sinking in the west, the seawater moving from far to near, rushing onto the beach, washing the feet of people strolling along the shore, whispering shyly and giggling. The evening glow displays the mountains and sea clouds, telling stories from afar. At night, the island is dark; the sea surface is invisible, only sparse fishing lights flicker in the darkness. The sea breeze silently stirs ripples on the water, swaying the gentle waves of light and shadow. I love islands, I love their tranquility. The sea embraces the islands, separating them from the land and the worldly worries. On an island, I quietly watch the boundless ocean, letting the sea breeze blow, letting time pass, letting memories stay. Being on an island is like lying in a broad embrace, quietly enjoying the peace of nature; it’s also like lying in a small boat, drifting on a lake, gazing at the sky, waiting for the stars to appear. Islands are never lonely; fishing boats, fishing lights, and fishing villages keep company. Islands make me think, inspire my creativity and emotions, and prompt me to contemplate more about life and culture. Qian Zhongshu once wrote: “Many scenes in the world can only be seen with closed eyes, such as dreams.” Dreams travel thousands of miles with the wind, searching for islands. Dreams are like this, and islands are like this. Locking oneself on an island is like closing one’s eyes; the soul freely explores, quietly dreams—dreaming of the world beyond the island, dreaming of all things in the world, dreaming of old friends, stories, hometown, and past affections. At this moment, a longing to go beyond the island arises. The world is so magical, and nature is so mysterious. Outsiders want to get in, insiders want to get out, always holding a psychological attachment to islands, exploring curious people, events, and hometown feelings, with a strong rational force impacting or stirring their hearts. In my view, an island is a window to the world: sitting inside the island, you want to look through this window to see the outside world; standing outside the island, you want to peer through this window to see the island’s mysteries. No wonder many literary and artistic figures throughout history and across cultures have captured islands and seascapes in their works, describing, narrating, portraying, and expressing emotions, using the sea to convey feelings, the island to inspire, blending scenery and sentiment, shaping the beauty in their hearts, expressing their emotions, and crystallizing their love in island sentiments. In the widely sung national song “My Motherland and I,” the sea is used to express feelings: “My motherland and I are like the sea and a wave. The wave is the sea’s child, and the sea is the wave’s support...” Islands are so magical, enchanting, and unforgettable.