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FLYING HOME, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

Rachel Hadas’s poem "Flying Home" captures the liminal experience of air travel, evoking a sense of detachment and introspection. Through vivid imagery and reflective tone, Hadas explores themes of displacement, the passage of time, and the quest for meaning amidst the transitory nature of travel.

The poem opens with an image that juxtaposes the serene with the unsettling: "Down milk-bright colonnades / the leper’s bell recedes." This blend of the luminous "milk-bright" colonnades with the ominous "leper’s bell" suggests a journey through a space that is both beautiful and fraught with echoes of suffering and isolation. The bell, a historical symbol of leprosy, signifies a call to attention, a reminder of the presence of something unsettling or marginalized.

The speaker then shifts to a more personal, introspective stance: "Shades lowered against the gleaming waste of ice, / I sit back, bathe in lukewarm acquiescence." Here, the "shades lowered" against the "gleaming waste of ice" create a sense of shielding oneself from the harsh, reflective outside world. The use of "lukewarm acquiescence" conveys a resigned acceptance, a passive surrender to the circumstances of the flight.

Hadas captures the mundane realities of air travel: "Dutiful, prompt, / strapped, doped, a little drunk," painting a picture of a traveler who is mechanically complying with the routine of flying, dulled by medication or alcohol, possibly to ease the discomfort of the journey. The speaker is "squinting at international afternoon," indicating the disorienting effect of crossing time zones and the unnatural light experienced in the air.

The line "I’ll soon pass GO again" alludes to the board game Monopoly, suggesting a cyclical return to the starting point, an endless loop of travel without a true sense of progression or destination. This metaphor underscores the repetitive nature of modern travel, where destinations blur into each other, and the journey becomes a series of checkpoints rather than a linear progression.

The speaker's contemplation deepens with a reflection on the potential fate of their belongings: "And if these colored pencils, nose drops, passport / should plummet with the rest of the huge oval." The "huge oval" refers to the airplane, and the idea of plummeting invokes the fear of a crash. The listing of mundane items like colored pencils and nose drops alongside a passport highlights the vulnerability and triviality of personal possessions in the face of potential disaster.

The poem then poses a poignant question about the value of written words: "will a notebook ambered back to front with words / rescue me from oblivion?" The metaphor of a "notebook ambered" suggests preserving thoughts and experiences in writing, akin to how amber preserves ancient insects. The speaker wonders if these words, recorded meticulously, will serve as a legacy or a means of being remembered, hinting at the desire for permanence in a transient world.

Hadas concludes with a blend of resignation and indifference: "Syrup of skittish travelers, fame. I yawn." The "syrup of skittish travelers" evokes a sense of restless, anxious movement, characteristic of frequent flyers. The mention of "fame" suggests a fleeting notion of recognition or significance, but it is met with a yawn, indicating the speaker’s fatigue and perhaps a cynical view of the pursuit of fame or meaning through travel.

"Flying Home" encapsulates the paradoxical nature of air travel—both a physical journey and a metaphor for the existential quest for meaning. Rachel Hadas uses the setting of an airplane to explore deeper themes of detachment, the search for significance, and the tension between transience and permanence. Through her reflective and vivid language, Hadas invites readers to consider the broader implications of travel and the ways in which we seek to navigate and make sense of our lives within the ever-shifting landscape of modern existence.


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