"The Island Fire" uses an island fire to symbolize the inner, destructive impulses that can exist within ourselves. The poem speaks about how these impulses can lead us to hurt others and ultimately hurt ourselves. The poem's message appears to be warning its readers to be aware of these destructive impulses and to do everything they can to avoid succumbing to them.
The poem's imagery is powerful, and it helps to create a very vivid picture of the destruction that the fire causes. The fire is described as "flaming" and "consuming," and it is said to spread quickly, destroying everything in its path. This imagery helps to create a sense of fear and urgency, and it makes the poem's message all the more powerful.