I CANNOT REMEMBER MY MOTHER
Class 9 English • Kaveri • Rabindranath Tagore
■ THE POEM AT A GLANCE
Central idea: The poet cannot clearly remember his mother, but her loving presence remains alive through
sounds, smells and sights connected with his childhood. The poem shows that emotional memories can
survive even when clear memories fade.
Stanza Memory trigger Sense What it reminds him of
1 A tune while playing Hearing His mother humming while rocking his cradle
2 Shiuli flowers + temple Smell His mother's presence
fragrance
3 Blue sky from the Sight His mother's calm gaze
window
■ STANZA-WISE NOTES
Stanza 1 — The tune of the cradle
The poet says he cannot remember his mother clearly. However, while playing with his toys, he sometimes
feels a tune hovering around them. He connects this tune with the song his mother used to hum while rocking
his cradle. This is an auditory memory.
Stanza 2 — The fragrance of shiuli flowers
During early autumn mornings, the fragrance of shiuli flowers reminds the poet of his mother. The scent
associated with the morning temple service also becomes, for him, the scent of his mother. This is an
olfactory memory.
Stanza 3 — The blue sky
When the poet looks through his bedroom window at the distant blue sky, he feels that his mother's calm
gaze has spread across the sky. The sky therefore becomes a symbol of her continuing, loving presence.
This is a visual memory.
■ IMPORTANT THEMES
• Motherly love: The mother's love remains emotionally present even though the poet cannot clearly
remember her.
• Memory: Memories may return through familiar sounds, fragrances and sights.
• Nature and emotion: Music, flowers, temple fragrance and the sky become connected with the poet's
feelings.
• Loss and longing: The poem carries a quiet feeling of sadness and yearning.
■ POETIC DEVICES
• Refrain: The repeated idea “I cannot remember my mother” emphasizes the poet's difficulty in recalling
her.
• Imagery: The poem creates images through sound, smell and sight.
Class 9 English • Kaveri • Rabindranath Tagore
■ THE POEM AT A GLANCE
Central idea: The poet cannot clearly remember his mother, but her loving presence remains alive through
sounds, smells and sights connected with his childhood. The poem shows that emotional memories can
survive even when clear memories fade.
Stanza Memory trigger Sense What it reminds him of
1 A tune while playing Hearing His mother humming while rocking his cradle
2 Shiuli flowers + temple Smell His mother's presence
fragrance
3 Blue sky from the Sight His mother's calm gaze
window
■ STANZA-WISE NOTES
Stanza 1 — The tune of the cradle
The poet says he cannot remember his mother clearly. However, while playing with his toys, he sometimes
feels a tune hovering around them. He connects this tune with the song his mother used to hum while rocking
his cradle. This is an auditory memory.
Stanza 2 — The fragrance of shiuli flowers
During early autumn mornings, the fragrance of shiuli flowers reminds the poet of his mother. The scent
associated with the morning temple service also becomes, for him, the scent of his mother. This is an
olfactory memory.
Stanza 3 — The blue sky
When the poet looks through his bedroom window at the distant blue sky, he feels that his mother's calm
gaze has spread across the sky. The sky therefore becomes a symbol of her continuing, loving presence.
This is a visual memory.
■ IMPORTANT THEMES
• Motherly love: The mother's love remains emotionally present even though the poet cannot clearly
remember her.
• Memory: Memories may return through familiar sounds, fragrances and sights.
• Nature and emotion: Music, flowers, temple fragrance and the sky become connected with the poet's
feelings.
• Loss and longing: The poem carries a quiet feeling of sadness and yearning.
■ POETIC DEVICES
• Refrain: The repeated idea “I cannot remember my mother” emphasizes the poet's difficulty in recalling
her.
• Imagery: The poem creates images through sound, smell and sight.
