The Flight by Sara Teasdale (1920)
The poem explores themes of love, longing, and the tension between past and present relationships. The speaker expresses a deep yearning for connection and the desire to be uplifted by love, likening it to the effortless flight of a swallow. There is a sense of adventure and a wish to escape to a place where love can flourish, symbolized by the imagery of hills and a peaceful home. However, the speaker grapples with the haunting presence of a first love, which complicates their current feelings. The repeated questioning of what it would mean to hear that first love calling back introduces a sense of conflict. The speaker is torn between the desire for new love and the nostalgia for a past relationship that still holds emotional weight. The poem captures the duality of love—its ability to elevate and inspire, while also evoking memories that can create inner turmoil. The imagery of nature, such as the wind and the sea, serves to enhance the emotional landscape, illustrating the speaker's internal struggle and the longing for both freedom and stability in love. Ultimately, the work reflects on the complexities of love and the impact of past relationships on present emotions.
By Sara Teasdale · First published 1920 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Imagist Poetry · 114 words
First lines
LOOK back with longing eyes and know that I will follow, Lift me up in your love as a light wind lifts a swallow, Let our flight be far in sun or windy rain -- BUT WHAT IF I HEARD MY FIRST LOVE CALLING ME AGAIN?
Hold me on your heart as the brave sea holds the foam, Take me far away to the hills that hide your home; Peace shall thatch the roof and love shall latch the door --
BUT WHAT IF I HEARD MY FIRST LOVE CALLING ME ONCE MORE?
What this Textopian page supports
The Flight is listed on Textopian as a poem by Sara Teasdale, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Sara Teasdale
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Imagist Poetry, Modernist Poetry, Narrative Poetry
- Length: 114 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Flight by Sara Teasdale
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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- How does this poem by Sara Teasdale fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles
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- I Am Like One That For Long Days Had Sate by Robert Louis Stevenson
- The Rose by Sara Teasdale
- Moods by Sara Teasdale
- The Wayfarer by Sara Teasdale
- Music At The Villa Marina by Robert Louis Stevenson
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses deep emotional themes and personal reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romantic Poetry — The themes of love, longing, and nature align closely with the conventions of Romantic poetry.
- Imagist Poetry — The vivid imagery and focus on sensory experiences reflect the principles of Imagist poetry.
- Modernist Poetry — The exploration of complex emotions and existential questions aligns with Modernist themes.
Tags
love · longing · memory · nature · flight · yearning · nostalgia · heart · home · freedom · sea · wind