The Island
O, former land of such promise,
O, evil twisted coven of malice,
The Island safe looks often down
On all the sordid poor around
O, place of torment and strife,
O, place of such anxiety rife,
The Island ville looks out upon
Its neighbors with look of wrong
O, town of such judgmental eyes,
O, foundation of unfounded lies,
A land so filled with lustful hate
Shall ever fall beneath its weight.
O, renowned educational luster,
O, diversity’s little rural bluster,
Look out, ye mighty, and compare
Your privileged lot, credit to tears.
O, nest of ever-ravenous vultures,
O, centric monomalgamated culture,
So pure and rich and ever white,
You never know the other’s plight.
The Island floats amongst the waves
Unknowingly working on their graves.
'The Island' is a somewhat figurative representative of Williamsville, Illinois, a small town of ~1,500 a few exits north of Springfield. Hembrough went to school in Williamsville from fifth grade to his senior year of high school, which he regards as a blend of formative and traumatic experiences.
Dylan Hembrough is a sophomore studying pharmacy. Hembrough is a self-published author of three books and the current editor-in-chief of The Alestle.