Flight patterns is a poem by the contemporary American poet, Natasha Trethewey. It was first published in her 2006 collection, "Native Guard," which won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 2007.
The poem is written in the first person and follows the speaker as they observe the flight patterns of geese overhead. The speaker reflects on the geese's migration and how it connects to their own sense of displacement and longing for home.
The poem opens with the speaker describing the geese flying overhead in a "V" formation, which is a common sight in the sky. The speaker wonders about the geese's destination and how they know where to go. This leads the speaker to reflect on their own sense of displacement and how they, like the geese, are constantly searching for a sense of home.
Throughout the poem, the speaker compares their own journey to that of the geese. They describe how the geese "mark time" with their migration and how they "cross borders" as they fly from one place to another. The speaker also reflects on the geese's ability to adapt to different environments and how they are able to find their way home, no matter where they are.
In the final stanza, the speaker describes how they, too, have had to adapt to different environments and how they have had to find their own way home. They describe how they have "carried [their] own sense of home / within [them] all along," suggesting that true home is not a physical place, but rather a sense of belonging and connection to one's roots.
Overall, "Flight Patterns" is a poignant and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of displacement, longing, and the search for home. Through its vivid imagery and powerful language, it invites readers to consider their own sense of belonging and the ways in which they connect to their own sense of home.
