An essay comparing and contrasting the two poems: "Island Man" by Grace Nichols and "The Fringe of the Sea", by A.L. Hendriks. (UK English GCSE Coursework, KS 4)

Comparing and contrasting the two poems: "Island Man" and "The Fringe of the Sea". I recently read two poems, entitled "Island Man" and "The Fringe of the Sea". These two poems are similar in many ways, but also have conflicting ideas. They both have connections to the sea, through the content of the poems, but also through the authors. Grace Nichols is the author of "Island Man", and she was born in Ghana, and now …

…I wouldn't ever want to leave. "Island Man", in my opinion, was more enjoyable to read, and very well written. It brings to mind a part of Meditaion XVII by John Donne, The Island. Island Man cannot exist on his own, cut off from the rest of society, and that may be why he moved to London, and although the wants to return to his solitary island, he does not, possibly for the same reason.