Notes English Kaveri Chapter 4 Class 9 CBSE Board

I Cannot Remember My Mother

1. ABOUT THE POEM

• Poet: Rabindranath Tagore
• Type: Free verse (no rhyme scheme)
• Theme: A child’s longing for his mother whom he lost very early in life
• Mood/Tone: Nostalgic, melancholic, yet peaceful and serene

2. THE POEM — STANZA-WISE SUMMARY

Stanza 1 — The Lullaby (Auditory Memory)

• The poet cannot remember his mother’s face, but sometimes during play, he feels a tune hovering over his toys.
• This tune is the lullaby/humming song his mother used to sing while rocking his cradle.
• Setting: Indoor
• Sense used: Auditory (hearing)

Stanza 2 — The Shiuli Flowers (Olfactory Memory)

• In early autumn mornings, when the fragrance of shiuli flowers floats in the air, it reminds the poet of his mother.
• The scent of the morning temple service feels like the scent of his mother.
• Setting: Outdoor
• Sense used: Olfactory (smell)

Stanza 3 — The Blue Sky (Visual Memory)

• When the poet looks at the vast blue sky through his bedroom window, he feels his mother’s calm, loving gaze has spread across the entire sky.
• Setting: Indoor (looking outward)
• Sense used: Visual (sight)