The poem begins with the speaker describing the process of displacement, using imagery of a "journey" and a "flight." They speak of leaving behind their "native soil" and "the land of our fathers," and of the pain of having to "say goodbye to our roots." This sense of loss and separation is compounded by the speaker's experience of living in a foreign land, where they feel like "strangers in a strange land."
The speaker also explores the idea of identity and how it is shaped by one's place of origin. They speak of feeling like they have "lost a part of ourselves" and of being "like shadows of our former selves." This loss of identity is further exacerbated by the speaker's experience of racism and discrimination in their new country. They speak of being "treated like outsiders" and of feeling like they "don't belong."
Despite all of these challenges, the speaker remains determined to find a sense of home and to rebuild their life. They express a desire to "find a place to call our own" and to "plant new roots." This desire is symbolized by the image of the speaker standing on a hill and looking out over the horizon, filled with hope and optimism for the future.
"Diaspora" is a moving and powerful poem that speaks to the experiences of many people who have been displaced from their homelands. The poem's exploration of themes of identity, displacement, and the search for home is both deeply personal and universally relatable.