Rabindranath Tagore'poem- I CANNOT REMEMBER MY MOTHER

POEM

I CANNOT REMEMBER MY MOTHER

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.

                                     - Rabindranath Tagore
                                     from ‘Sishu Bholanath


Answer the following questions.

1. Who wrote the poem?

2. What is the poet reminded of when he saw his playthings?

3. How does the poet feel the presence of his mother?

4. What do you think would have happened to the poet’s mother?

5. Bring about your feelings about your mother.