airplane thoughts
by Bhavya
good afternoon passengers. Flight BA357 has now begun boarding. we are now inviting passengers with small children, and any passengers requiring special assistance, to begin boarding at this time.
i. india
nanna stepped onto foreign soil with a rupee and a dream,
his pursuit of happiness in 2005
his white pancha tugged amma’s sari across the atlantic—the unbreakable granthibandan [sacred knot]
ii. maryland
amma’s homesick tears harmonized with the clatter of pots and pans,
masking her difficulty in facing the english language,
the cries of her second-born soon purging the apartment of tranquility
ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard Flight DL223 with service from Maryland to New Jersey. we ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time and secure all baggage underneath your seat or in the overhead compartments.
iii. new jersey
once tiny strangers greedy for candy at my door
like puzzle pieces fitting, we soon held hands for friendship’s grand tour
the apartment walls now whispered tales of playground adventures
iv. virginia
the only memories of my childhood were: long roads, U-haul trucks,
and periodic summer trips back to India
constantly packing and unpacking, moving is a never-ending game
ladies and gentlemen, we have begun our descent into phoenix. please turn off all portable electronic devices and stow them until we have arrived at the gate.in preparation for landing in phoenix, be certain your seat back is straight up and your seat belt is fastened
v. arizona
we settled amongst dry mountainous terrain and rows of rugged cacti
an apartment transitioned to a lovely suburban house with two working parents and cars
in 2014, we achieved the American dream!
ladies and gentleman, delta airlines welcomes you to charlottesville your local time is 3:05 pm. For your safety and the safety of those around you, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened and keep the aisle(s) clear until we are parked at the gate.
vi. virginia
lush green forests and a long quiet drive
my heart embraced by the sweet scent of nostalgia
returning as an adult to a place of my youth
this place might become my anchor, forever etched in stone
once a childhood haven, now a sanctuary of memories
the tree branches whisper kind greetings as i wander through familiar streets
yet amidst these fleeting moments of delight, curiosity dances like a flame in my soul
will i now have a place i can proudly call home?
this undying doubt soon became an unwelcome companion by my side
that i hauled across mccormick day after day
change had wrapped its fingers around my throat,
slowly tightening its grasp till i was left fighting for oxygen
rage clawed the insides of my stomach
craving for a place that never existed
a place called home
why did nanna have to drag his family across the atlantic
from coast to coast in america
placing his family in the Sisyphean loop of experiencing
the pain of departing, distancing yourself,
the trials of traveling, never settling down, and
the love in leaving,
letting go
till departure do us apart
vii. epiphany
now i flow with the diaspora
accept the hustle bustle of plane rides that embody my time on earth
always in transit, forever grateful for the places i have roamed
the foreign feeling of my dark skin color in india or america
the roots of our family entrenched in american soil
no place known as my hometown
the realization that home isn’t just four walls and a roof,
or a backyard with a fence and a pool,
nor is home the idea of what exists in my memories—
amongst the labyrinth of my childhood
through mountains i climbed and oceans i crossed,
the very truth i had found
is that the essence of home is forever around
within the comfort of my own skin and beating heart,
in the gentle whispers of my soul’s reflection—
an eternal space of love and care,
filled with untold tales of laughter and tears
so even when the world spins whirlwind fast
i can retreat to a place where time slows and lasts
a refuge in which my restless spirit thrives
for within me, home finds its truest form
