Here's a breakdown of the poem's subject matter:
* Cultural Identity: The poem is a reflection on the speaker's experience of growing up in a bilingual and bicultural environment. She feels a sense of displacement and alienation because she doesn't fully belong to either culture. She describes her native tongue, Gujarati, as "a tongue I haven't used/ for years" and feels that her English is "not quite right." This illustrates the struggle to find a sense of belonging when straddling two cultures.
* Language: The poem centers around the act of speaking and the power of language. The speaker uses vivid imagery to portray the feeling of having her native tongue taken away from her and the struggle to reclaim it. She compares her Gujarati to a "dead bird" and feels a sense of loss and frustration. The act of searching for her tongue is a metaphor for her search for her cultural identity.
* Reconciliation: The poem ends on a hopeful note, suggesting that the speaker is coming to terms with her bicultural identity. She acknowledges that "the tongue I thought I'd lost/ is in the bones of my being." This implies that despite feeling displaced, her cultural heritage remains deeply ingrained within her.
In essence, "Search for My Tongue" is a poignant exploration of the challenges and rewards of navigating multiple cultural identities. It speaks to the universal experience of trying to find your voice and belonging in a world that often feels fragmented.