"Search for My Tongue" is a poem written by Sujata Bhatt that explores the theme of cultural identity and the complexities of language. The poem describes the speaker's experience of growing up in India, where she learned to speak Gujarati, her mother tongue. However, when she moved to the United States, she found herself struggling to maintain her connection to her native language and culture.
The poem begins with the speaker describing how her "tongue is split" and how she feels as though she is "two people." On one hand, she is able to speak English fluently and is able to communicate with ease in her new home. However, on the other hand, she feels a strong sense of loss and longing for her mother tongue, which she describes as "a part of [her] that [she] cannot wash away."
The speaker goes on to describe how she dreams in Gujarati and how she has "to search for it" when she wakes up. This suggests that even in her subconscious, her connection to her mother tongue is strong and ever-present. However, in the waking world, she finds it increasingly difficult to use and maintain her fluency in Gujarati.
Throughout the poem, the speaker grapples with the difficulties of living in a new culture and trying to hold onto her heritage. She reflects on how the English language has "taken [her] tongue" and how she feels as though she is "losing [her] mother tongue." Despite her efforts to keep it alive, she feels as though it is "withering away" and fears that she will eventually forget it completely.
In the final stanza of the poem, the speaker reflects on the importance of language and cultural identity. She notes that her mother tongue is "part of [her] identity," and that it is something that she cannot simply discard or forget. She concludes by stating that she will continue to "search for [her] tongue," implying that she will always strive to maintain her connection to her cultural heritage and mother tongue, no matter where life takes her.
Overall, "Search for My Tongue" is a powerful and poignant poem that captures the universal experience of feeling torn between two cultures and languages. It speaks to the importance of maintaining one's cultural identity and the pain of feeling disconnected from one's heritage. Through the speaker's struggles and reflections, the poem serves as a reminder of the value of preserving our linguistic and cultural traditions.
