• Chapter Name: I Cannot Remember My Mother
• Textbook Name: Class 9 English Kaveri
• Related Stud material: Class 9 Kaveri NCERT Solutions

I Cannot Remember My Mother (Poem) NCERT Solutions Class 9 English

Page No. 127

Reflect and Respond

I. Work in pairs. Discuss the memories from your childhood that you remember. List them and share with your classmates and teacher.

Answer

Some of the memories from my childhood that I remember are:

• Playing outdoor games with my friends in the evening.
• Listening to bedtime stories told by my grandmother.
• Celebrating festivals with my family and relatives.
• Going on school picnics and enjoying with classmates.
• Learning to ride a bicycle with the help of my father.
• Watching cartoons and playing with toys during holidays.
• Helping my mother in simple household activities.
• Enjoying summer vacations at my grandparents’ house.
• Participating in school functions and competitions.
• Eating homemade sweets prepared during festivals.

These memories are very special to me because they remind me of the happiness, love, and care I received during my childhood.

II. Discuss how children’s relationship with their mother can influence their emotions and memories.

Answer

A child’s relationship with the mother greatly influences emotions and memories. A mother’s love, care, and affection make children feel safe, happy, and confident. Childhood memories such as lullabies, stories, and special moments with the mother remain unforgettable throughout life.

III. Match the words given in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2.

Answer

Page No. 127

Check Your Understanding

I. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

Stanza 1

1. The poet remembers his mother while he _________.

2. The poet remembers the ________ but not the _________.

Setting: ____________ (outdoor/indoor)

Answer

1. The poet remembers his mother while he plays.

2. The poet remembers the tune of the song but not the mother herself.

Setting: Indoor

Stanza 2

1. The poet remembers his mother in the ________ season.

2. The poet remembers his mother by the smell of ________.

Setting: ________ (outdoor/indoor)

Answer

1. The poet remembers his mother in the early autumn season.

2. The poet remembers his mother by the smell of shiuli flowers.

Setting: Outdoor

Stanza 3

1. The poet feels that his mother _________ at him from the _________.

Setting: _______ (outdoor/indoor)

Answer

1. The poet feels that his mother gazes at him from the sky.

Setting: Outdoor

II. The senses of olfactory (smell), auditory (hearing), and visual (sight), are three of the five basic senses in humans. Give examples of references to senses from the poem. Complete the table given below.

Answer

III. Read the poem silently once again and complete the following.

1. Two examples of alliteration from the poem are (i) _______ and (ii) _______.

2. An example of onomatopoeia is __________.

3. The poem uses imagery extensively. Explain.

4. Although the poem does not have a rhyme scheme, it is enjoyable because ________.

5. What is the tone of the poet? Why do you say so?

6. What impact does the title of the poem have on the overall mood of the poem?

7. The poet uses ‘I cannot remember my mother’ as a refrain because _________.

8. The poet uses symbolism to indicate the memory of his mother’s presence. Identify the symbols used in the poem.

Answer

1. (i) “midst of my play”

(ii) “stillness of my mother’s gaze”

2. “hum”

3. The poem uses imagery extensively through descriptions related to sound, smell, and sight. The humming tune, the fragrance of shiuli flowers, and the blue sky create vivid sensory images. These images help the reader feel the poet’s emotions and understand how memories of his mother return through nature and surroundings.

4. Although the poem does not have a rhyme scheme, it is enjoyable because of its emotional depth, smooth flow, and beautiful imagery.

5. The tone of the poet is nostalgic and emotional. The poet remembers his mother with love and longing through sounds, smells, and sights connected to his childhood memories.

6. The title creates a sad and emotional mood. It immediately tells the reader that the poet cannot clearly remember his mother, which fills the poem with feelings of loss, longing, and remembrance.

7. The poet uses ‘I cannot remember my mother’ as a refrain because it emphasises his deep sense of loss and his emotional attachment to his mother.

8. The symbols used in the poem are:

• The humming tune — symbol of the mother’s love and affection.
• Shiuli flowers — symbol of purity and memories.
• The blue sky — symbol of the mother’s calm and everlasting presence.

Page No. 129

Critical Reflection

I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. “I cannot remember my mother
only sometimes in the midst of my play
a tune seems to hover over my playthings,”

(i) Complete the following sentence appropriately.

The poet is reminded of his mother during his _________.

Answer

The poet is reminded of his mother during his playtime.

(ii) What is the primary emotion conveyed by the line ‘a tune seems to hover over my playthings’?

A. It enhances the joy of play.
B. It disrupts the playtime atmosphere.
C. It activates memories of the mother.
D. It symbolises the carefree nature of childhood.

Answer

C. It activates memories of the mother.

(iii) In the context of the poem, what role does the hovering tune play during the speaker’s playtime?

Answer

The hovering tune reminds the speaker of his mother’s love and care. It brings back childhood memories and creates an emotional connection with his mother.

(iv) State whether the following sentence is true or false.

The poet experiences the tune lingering over playthings only occasionally during playtime.

Answer

True.

(v) How could the poet feel his mother’s presence, even though she isn’t there?

Answer

The poet could feel his mother’s presence through memories connected with sounds, smells, and sights from nature and childhood experiences.

2. “I feel that the stillness of
my mother’s gaze on my face
has spread all over the sky.”

(i) What does the poet suggest about the stillness of his mother's gaze spreading over the sky?

A. The mother’s gaze is physically present in the sky.
B. The sky is a symbolic extension of the mother’s presence.
C. The sky mirrors the mother’s emotions.
D. The stillness is fleeting and unrelated to the mother.

Answer

B. The sky is a symbolic extension of the mother’s presence.

(ii) What emotion does the poet associate with the ‘stillness’ of his mother’s gaze?

A. a sense of grief
B. a sense of anticipation
C. a sense of nostalgia
D. a sense of serenity

Answer

D. a sense of serenity

(iii) State whether the following sentence is true or false.

The poet suggests that the mother’s gaze has a tangible and visual effect on the sky.

Answer

False.

(iv) What is the purpose of likening the mother’s gaze to the sky?

Answer

The poet likens the mother’s gaze to the sky to show that her love and care are vast, peaceful, protective, and everlasting.

(v) Complete the sentence appropriately.

The tone of the poet in the given extract is _______ because _______.

Answer

The tone of the poet in the given extract is peaceful and nostalgic because he lovingly remembers his mother through the calmness of the sky.

II. Answer the following questions.

1. What is the emotional impact of the refrain, ‘I cannot remember my mother’?

2. Interpret the connection between the poet’s mother and the following:

(i) shiuli flowers
(ii) humming tune

3. What role does nature play in the poet’s description of the memory of his mother?

4. What can be inferred about the poet’s perception of the mother–child relationship?

Answer

1. The refrain creates a strong feeling of sadness and longing. It shows the poet’s pain of not remembering his mother clearly, while also expressing the deep emotional bond he still feels with her.

2. (i) The fragrance of shiuli flowers reminds the poet of his mother’s gentle and loving presence. The flowers symbolise purity, affection, and emotional memories.

2. (ii) The humming tune reminds the poet of his mother singing while rocking his cradle. It symbolises warmth, care, comfort, and maternal love.

3. Nature plays an important role in reviving the poet’s memories of his mother. The fragrance of flowers, the morning atmosphere, and the blue sky all help him feel her presence emotionally.

4. The poet believes that the bond between a mother and child is eternal and deeply emotional. Even after losing clear memories of his mother, her love remains alive in his heart through sensory experiences and emotions.

Page No. 131

Vocabulary in Context

I. Work in pairs to classify the sensory words given in the box below. One example has been done for you.

Answer

II. Fill in the blanks with sensory words in the box for the following passage written by Sarojini Naidu. There are two extra words.

Come and share my exquisite March morning with me: this sumptuous blaze of gold and sapphire sky; these 1. ________ lilies that adorn the sunshine; the voluptuous 2. ________ of neem and champak and serisha that beat upon the languid air with their implacable 3. ________; the thousand little gold and blue and silver breasted birds bursting with the 4. ________ ecstasy of life in nesting time. And, do you know that the scarlet lilies are woven petal by petal from my heart’s blood, these little quivering birds are my soul made incarnate music, these heavy 5. ________ are my emotions dissolved into aerial 6. ________, this 7. _______ blue and gold sky is the ‘very me’…

Answer

Come and share my exquisite March morning with me: this sumptuous blaze of gold and sapphire sky; these 1. flaming lilies that adorn the sunshine; the voluptuous 2. perfumes of neem and champak and serisha that beat upon the languid air with their implacable 3. sweetness; the thousand little gold and blue and silver breasted birds bursting with the 4. shrill ecstasy of life in nesting time. And, do you know that the scarlet lilies are woven petal by petal from my heart’s blood, these little quivering birds are my soul made incarnate music, these heavy 5. scents are my emotions dissolved into aerial 6. essence, this 7. scarlet blue and gold sky is the ‘very me’…

III. Write numbers against each picture with the phrases that describe them with their sensorial associations. One example has been done for you.

1. beats of music echo in air
2. melody of soothing scent, dancing in the air
3. fragrant breeze of blooming buds
4. gentle lullaby, a soft melody
5. colourful sky, painting a lively sight
6. attractive canvas painting the horizon

Answer

Page No. 133

Listen and Respond

I. You will listen to four short extracts of people expressing their childhood memories. As you listen, match each statement 1–6 to each speaker (i)–(iv). There are two statements that you do not need. (Transcript for teacher on page 266)

Answer

Page No. 134

Speaking Activity

I. Work in pairs. Think of an object, song, or a place that is memorable for you. Take turns to speak about it using the prompts given below.

• Introduce it briefly
• Describe it in detail including sensory details
• Narrate the specific memory associated with it
• Explain how it has impacted your life
• Summarise why this memory is meaningful to you even now

You may use the following phrases.

• During my childhood...
• Growing up, I fondly remember...
• Recalling those early years, I can’t forget...
• In my younger days, I used to...
• I have a clear memory of...
• A routine activity in my childhood involved...
• A cherished part of my childhood includes...
• As a child, I was fond of...
• One of my favourite childhood moments is...
• Thinking about my early years, I recall...
• A common occurrence during my youth was...

Answer

During my childhood, I fondly remember visiting my grandparents’ village during summer vacations. The place was surrounded by green fields, tall trees, and a small river nearby. The cool breeze, chirping birds, and the smell of fresh soil made the village very peaceful and beautiful.

I have a clear memory of playing with my cousins in the open fields and listening to stories told by my grandmother at night. One of my favourite childhood moments is sitting under the mango tree and eating fresh mangoes with my family.

Page No. 135

Writing Task

I. Imagine you had been on a school trip to a scenic place which appealed to all your senses. Write a diary entry describing the place and why it was a memorable experience.

• Contents of the diary entry:
• begin with day, date, and time
• use only first person (I, my)
• capture sensory details
• express emotions
• focus on significant moments and experiences
• conclude with reflection

Answer

Friday, 12 July 2026

8:30 p.m.

Deary Diary,

Today was one of the most memorable days of my life. I went on a school trip to Nainital with my classmates and teachers. The place was full of natural beauty. The cool breeze touched my face gently, and the fresh smell of pine trees filled the air. I could hear birds chirping sweetly and the soft sound of water flowing in the lake.

I enjoyed boating in the beautiful lake surrounded by green hills. The colourful flowers, bright blue sky, and peaceful environment made me feel very happy and relaxed. I also tasted hot snacks from a small shop near the lake, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

The most special moment for me was watching the sunset over the hills. The golden rays spreading across the water looked magical. I clicked many photographs with my friends and shared lots of laughter.

This trip taught me to appreciate the beauty of nature and the importance of spending joyful moments with friends. I will always remember this wonderful experience.