I Cannot Remember My Mother Class 9 Revision Notes, I Cannot Remember My Mother is a beautiful poem by Rabindranath Tagore. The poem expresses a child’s deep emotional connection with his mother, even though he cannot clearly remember her. It shows how memories live through feelings, nature, and small experiences.

I Cannot Remember My Mother Class 9 Revision Notes
I cannot remember my mother
only sometimes in the midst of my play
a tune seems to hover over my playthings,
the tune of some song that she used to
hum while rocking my cradle.
I cannot remember my mother
but when in the early autumn morning
the smell of the shiuli flowers floats in the air
the scent of the morning service in the temple
comes to me as the scent of my mother.
I cannot remember my mother
only when from my bedroom window I send
my eyes into the blue of the distant sky,
I feel that the stillness of
my mother’s gaze on my face
has spread all over the sky.
Author: Rabindranath Tagore (He was a great Indian poet, writer, and philosopher and the first Indian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature (1993). He wrote the Indian national anthem and famous books Gitanjali, Kabuliwala, and The Postmaster.)
Themes of the Poem
- Love and memory.
- Emotional connection with mother
- Power of nature
- Childhood feeling
- Loss and remembrance
Summary of I Cannot Remember My Mother Class 9
The poet says that he cannot clearly remember his mother, but some small things remind him of her:
When the poet pays, he hears a tune that feels like the song his mother used to sing while rocking his cradle.
In autumn, when the shiuli flowers bloom and when he smells them, it reminds him of the temple prayers. This scent makes him think of his mother.
When he looks at the wide blue sky, he feels his mother’s quiet gaze spread everywhere.
Moral of poem: Even the poet cannot remember his mother, but her love and presence live in the songs, scents, and the sky. Nature helps him to feel close to his mother.
Key Points for Revision
- The poem is written by Rabindranath Tagore.
- The poet cannot clearly remember his mother.
- A tune of some song reminds him of her love.
- The fragrance of the shiuli flower reminds him of temple prayers.
- The blue sky symbolizes his mother’s gentle presence.
- Nature helps him to feel connected to his mother.
- The poem highlights emotional memory over physical memory.
Important Questions and Answers
What is the main idea of the poem?
The main idea of the poem is that the mother’s love remains in our hearts even if we cannot clearly remember her.
How does the poet remember his mother?
The poet remembers his mother through music, the fragrance of flowers, and the vast sky.
What do shiuli flowers symbolize?
The shiuli flowers symbolize memories, peace, and emotional connection with his mother.
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