As you can only imagine, Jamaica is on my mind the way you would think about that hot, sizzling new crush. I wake up to thoughts of beaches and sunshine; checking out my skin to see if I got a tan overnight. I go to bed with blue skies on my mind. Just today, I was walking through the mall and I was checking out bathing suits because surely I may need one in my dream.

The truth is and there is no doubt about it; I want to go to Jamaica. I want to be there not in a few months, but now. This moment. I want to snap my fingers and have my life be transformed so that I am living in a nice apartment in New Kingston. I want to feel the warmth of the sun seeping through my skin. I want to be drenched with sweat; feeling dirt all over my body and the pressing desire to take a long shower because I was enveloped in the hot Jamaican sun. This is not a want, it’s a need. And it is not a desire to run away from the -20 degree temperatures we’ve been having here. It’s just what happens when you’re in love.

I want to see Jamaica’s tantalizing mountains, taste the sugary mangoes, canes, coconut water, and feel the juice run down my fingers and all over my shirt. I want to put my feet in the dazzling shades of blue water and sink my toes into the sparkly cotton-like sand. I want to look at the mesmerizing sunsets and sunrises that I often miss here at home especially during wintry weather. Yes I want to be witness to the hustle and bustle and loose myself in the crime and violence; though not literally. I want to empathize with Jamaica when another one of its citizens have been lost to a bullet; and the stains of blood, left as remnants on your soil. Jamaica I want to cry when you cry for another soul placed deep down into your core. Where they should have been walking; they are now lying motionless. I want to share your joy and happiness. I want to celebrate with you during times of carnivals, anniversaries and other festivities. I want to reminisce in your
history with you and honour those men and women that made you proud over the years. Oh Jamaica, your land is so sweet. I want to eat different flavors of ice cream while sitting on your lush green grass. I want to spend my days gazing out at your leafy coconut and palm trees and spend moments in a trance while I stare at the bright colored flowers you wear so eloquently.

Related: The Last Day

I am so tired of living away from you, Jamaica; because you are hard to live without. Still, I’ll be patient for a few more months, because I know my time with you will be sweet. I’ll continue daydreaming about your handsomeness and your rock hard abs you call mountains. I’ll keep drooling over your sugary fruits and your oh so good jerk chicken, jerk pork, fried fish and festival. Must I go on? Lord, help me so I won’t be tempted to steal away to this tantalizing island and make it my home for life.