✦ I CANNOT REMEMBER
MY MOTHER ✦
RABINDRANATH TAGORE • CLASS 9 ENGLISH
■ SOUND ■ SMELL ■■ SIGHT
A tune while playing Shiuli flowers Blue sky
Mother's humming Mother's presence Mother's gaze
■ THE POEM IN ONE MINUTE
The poet cannot clearly remember his mother, but childhood memories of her return through ordinary
experiences. A tune reminds him of her humming, the fragrance of shiuli flowers reminds him of her
presence, and the blue sky makes him imagine her calm gaze. The poem shows how love and emotional
memories can remain even when exact memories have faded.
■ STANZA-WISE STORY
01 ■ THE TUNE
While playing with his toys, the poet sometimes feels a tune hovering around them. This tune takes him back
to the song his mother used to hum while rocking his cradle. He cannot remember her face clearly, but the
sound keeps a connection with her alive.
02 ■ THE FRAGRANCE
In early autumn, the fragrance of shiuli flowers reminds the poet of his mother. The fragrance connected with
the morning temple service also becomes associated with her. A smell from nature therefore brings back an
emotional memory.
03 ■■ 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 it. The sky becomes a beautiful image of her continuing presence in his memory.
MY MOTHER ✦
RABINDRANATH TAGORE • CLASS 9 ENGLISH
■ SOUND ■ SMELL ■■ SIGHT
A tune while playing Shiuli flowers Blue sky
Mother's humming Mother's presence Mother's gaze
■ THE POEM IN ONE MINUTE
The poet cannot clearly remember his mother, but childhood memories of her return through ordinary
experiences. A tune reminds him of her humming, the fragrance of shiuli flowers reminds him of her
presence, and the blue sky makes him imagine her calm gaze. The poem shows how love and emotional
memories can remain even when exact memories have faded.
■ STANZA-WISE STORY
01 ■ THE TUNE
While playing with his toys, the poet sometimes feels a tune hovering around them. This tune takes him back
to the song his mother used to hum while rocking his cradle. He cannot remember her face clearly, but the
sound keeps a connection with her alive.
02 ■ THE FRAGRANCE
In early autumn, the fragrance of shiuli flowers reminds the poet of his mother. The fragrance connected with
the morning temple service also becomes associated with her. A smell from nature therefore brings back an
emotional memory.
03 ■■ 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 it. The sky becomes a beautiful image of her continuing presence in his memory.
