The Kite by William Carlos Williams is a poem that explores the idea of freedom, adventure and nostalgia. The poem starts off by describing a kite going up into the sky and the speaker's joy watching it soar up in the sky, providing a sense of adventure and freedom:
"The kite, tugging at the line,
soaring up, up, into the sky—
it made me think of far away places
and of nothing, and of seeing what I'd never seen."
The speaker then reflects on his childhood memories of using kites for different activities such as fishing, and the joy of flying it:
"I'd thrown a kite on fishing lines
to haul the seasons from out of the sky,
just as I'd let it loose to roar and ride—
and oh, the pleasure of the ride!"
The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on the idea of being completely in touch with nature, and how this realization is like freedom:
"And yes, I knew at last I was part of it all—
the sea, the wind, and the empty sky—
all part of something bigger, with no end in sight
like a kite and my own life, soaring free."
Through this poem, William Carlos Williams uses the kite as a metaphor for freedom and exploration, showing how something like a simple childhood activity can bring a sense of joy and nostalgia while providing insight into how we can appreciate nature and be more in touch with ourselves.
