9th class English (FBISE), Chapter 9, Travel and Tourism
National Book Foundation
Poem "Two Mothers Remembered"
BY
Joann Snow Duncanson
Original Readings
Paraphrasing of the poem “Two Mothers Remembered” by Joann Snow Duncanson Line by line:
Stanza - 1:
Paraphrase (line by line)
“I had two Mothers – two Mothers I claim,”
👉 The poet says she feels as though she had two mothers in her life.
“Two different people, yet with the same name.”
👉 Both were called “Mother,” but they were not the same person in nature.
“Two separate women, diverse by design,”
👉 Each mother had her own personality and way of being.
“But I loved them both because they were mine.”
👉 She loved both versions because they were her mothers.
“The first was the Mother who carried me here,”
👉 The first mother gave birth to her and brought her into the world.
“Gave birth and nurtured and launched my career.”
👉 She not only gave life but also cared for her and set her on her life path.
“She was the one whose features I bear,”
👉 The poet looks like this mother, carrying her physical traits.
“Complete with the facial expressions I wear.”
👉 Even her expressions are like her mother’s.
“She gave her love, which follows me yet,”
👉 Her mother’s love still stays with her even now.
“Along with the examples in life she set.”
👉 She also remembers the good lessons her mother taught.
“As I got older, she somehow younger grew,”
👉 As the poet grew up, her mother seemed more youthful in spirit.
“And we’d laugh as just Mothers and daughters do.”
👉 They shared joy and laughter like any close mother and daughter.
“But then came the time that her mind clouded so,”
👉 But later, her mother’s memory and thinking began to fade.
“And I sensed that the Mother I knew would soon go.”
👉 The poet realized she was losing the mother she had always known.
“So quickly she changed and turned into the other,”
👉 Her mother changed rapidly into someone new.
“A stranger who dressed in the clothes of my Mother.”
👉 Though she looked the same outside, inside she was different.
“Oh, she looked the same, at least at arm’s length,”
👉 From the outside, she still seemed like the same person.
“But now she was the child and I was her strength.”
👉 But now roles had reversed—the mother became like a child, and the daughter had to care for her.
“We’d come full circle, we women three,”
👉 Life had come full circle between grandmother, mother, and daughter.
“My Mother the first, the second and me.”
👉 It was like three women existed—the mother of the past, the mother she became, and the daughter herself.
“And if my own children should come to a day,”
👉 The poet thinks of a future when her children may face the same.
“When a new Mother comes and the old goes away,”
👉 When she herself may change with age, like her mother did.
“I’d ask of them nothing that I didn’t do.”
👉 She would only want her children to do what she herself did.
“Love both of your Mothers as both loved you.”
👉 She asks them to love both versions of her, just as she loved both versions of her own mother.
“I had two Mothers – two Mothers I claim,”
👉 The poet says she feels as though she had two mothers in her life.“Two different people, yet with the same name.”
👉 Both were called “Mother,” but they were not the same person in nature.“Two separate women, diverse by design,”
👉 Each mother had her own personality and way of being.“But I loved them both because they were mine.”
👉 She loved both versions because they were her mothers.
“The first was the Mother who carried me here,”
👉 The first mother gave birth to her and brought her into the world.“Gave birth and nurtured and launched my career.”
👉 She not only gave life but also cared for her and set her on her life path.“She was the one whose features I bear,”
👉 The poet looks like this mother, carrying her physical traits.“Complete with the facial expressions I wear.”
👉 Even her expressions are like her mother’s.
“She gave her love, which follows me yet,”
👉 Her mother’s love still stays with her even now.“Along with the examples in life she set.”
👉 She also remembers the good lessons her mother taught.“As I got older, she somehow younger grew,”
👉 As the poet grew up, her mother seemed more youthful in spirit.“And we’d laugh as just Mothers and daughters do.”
👉 They shared joy and laughter like any close mother and daughter.
“But then came the time that her mind clouded so,”
👉 But later, her mother’s memory and thinking began to fade.“And I sensed that the Mother I knew would soon go.”
👉 The poet realized she was losing the mother she had always known.“So quickly she changed and turned into the other,”
👉 Her mother changed rapidly into someone new.“A stranger who dressed in the clothes of my Mother.”
👉 Though she looked the same outside, inside she was different.
“Oh, she looked the same, at least at arm’s length,”
👉 From the outside, she still seemed like the same person.“But now she was the child and I was her strength.”
👉 But now roles had reversed—the mother became like a child, and the daughter had to care for her.“We’d come full circle, we women three,”
👉 Life had come full circle between grandmother, mother, and daughter.“My Mother the first, the second and me.”
👉 It was like three women existed—the mother of the past, the mother she became, and the daughter herself.
“And if my own children should come to a day,”
👉 The poet thinks of a future when her children may face the same.“When a new Mother comes and the old goes away,”
👉 When she herself may change with age, like her mother did.“I’d ask of them nothing that I didn’t do.”
👉 She would only want her children to do what she herself did.“Love both of your Mothers as both loved you.”
👉 She asks them to love both versions of her, just as she loved both versions of her own mother.
Paraphrasing of Stanza 1 in a paragraph:
I had two Mothers – two Mothers I claim,Two different people, yet with the same name.Two separate women, diverse by design,But I loved them both because they were mine.
The poet says that she was blessed with two mothers, both of whom she claims as her own. Though they were two different women with their own unique qualities and ways, they shared the same role of motherhood in her life. Despite their differences, she loved them both deeply because each was special to her in her own way.
The poet says that she was blessed with two mothers, both of whom she claims as her own. Though they were two different women with their own unique qualities and ways, they shared the same role of motherhood in her life. Despite their differences, she loved them both deeply because each was special to her in her own way.
Paraphrasing of Stanza 2 in a paragraph:
The first was the Mother who carried me here,Gave birth and nurtured and launched my career.She was the one whose features I bear,Complete with the facial expressions I wear.
The first mother was the one who gave birth to the poet, cared for her, and guided her through the early stages of life. From this mother, she inherited her physical appearance and even the expressions she shows on her face, carrying a strong resemblance to her.
The first mother was the one who gave birth to the poet, cared for her, and guided her through the early stages of life. From this mother, she inherited her physical appearance and even the expressions she shows on her face, carrying a strong resemblance to her.
Paraphrasing of Stanza 3 in a paragraph:
She gave her love, which follows me yet,Along with the examples in life she set.As I got older, she somehow younger grew,And we’d laugh as just Mothers and daughters do.
This mother gave her unconditional love and set good examples for her to follow. As the poet grew older, her mother’s spirit seemed younger, and they shared many happy and joyful moments together as both mother and daughter, and also as friends.
Paraphrasing of Stanza 4 in a paragraph:
But then came the time that her mind clouded so,And I sensed that the Mother I knew would soon go.So quickly she changed and turned into the other,A stranger who dressed in the clothes of my Mother.
Later, her mother’s memory started fading, and the poet realized that the mother she had always known was slowly disappearing. She changed quickly into another version of herself, who seemed like a stranger, though she still wore the same clothes and looked the same outwardly.
Later, her mother’s memory started fading, and the poet realized that the mother she had always known was slowly disappearing. She changed quickly into another version of herself, who seemed like a stranger, though she still wore the same clothes and looked the same outwardly.
Paraphrasing of Stanza 5 in a paragraph:
Oh, she looked the same, at least at arm’s length,But now she was the child and I was her strength.We’d come full circle, we women three,My Mother the first, the second and me.
From a distance she appeared unchanged, but in reality, she had become childlike. The roles were reversed—the daughter now had to become the strength and caretaker of her mother. The poet reflects that life had come full circle, connecting the three generations: grandmother, mother, and daughter.
From a distance she appeared unchanged, but in reality, she had become childlike. The roles were reversed—the daughter now had to become the strength and caretaker of her mother. The poet reflects that life had come full circle, connecting the three generations: grandmother, mother, and daughter.
Paraphrasing of Stanza 6 in a paragraph:
The poet finally says that when her own children face a similar situation in the future, she hopes they will also love her in both forms—the strong mother they knew in their childhood and the weaker mother of old age—just as she loved both versions of her own mother.
The Summary of the poem “Two Mothers Remembered” by Joann Snow Duncanson:
The poem “Two Mothers Remembered” by Joann Snow Duncanson beautifully describes the two different phases of a mother’s life as seen by her daughter. In the beginning, the poet remembers her first mother—the one who gave her birth, raised her with love, guided her with values, and shared joy and laughter with her as a friend. But with the passing of time, this mother changed due to old age and memory loss, becoming like a child who needed care and strength from her daughter. Though it was painful to see this change, the poet still loved her deeply. She realizes that life comes full circle, where mothers become like children and daughters become their support. In the end, she wishes that her own children will one day love both versions of her—the strong and the weak—just as she loved both of her mothers.
The Central Idea / Theme of the poem “Two Mothers Remembered” by Joann Snow Duncanson:
👇Below are two different Central Idea:The central idea of “Two Mothers Remembered” is the unchanging love between a mother and child, even as the mother goes through different stages of life. The poet lovingly recalls two versions of her mother—the first, a strong, caring, and nurturing woman who gave her birth, raised her, and taught her valuable lessons; and the second, an older and weaker version of the same mother, whose memory faded and who became dependent like a child. Although this transformation was painful to witness, the poet accepted both with the same affection and respect. The poem teaches us that true love and respect for parents should continue in every stage of their life, whether they are strong or dependent. It also carries the message that children should treat their mothers with the same devotion their mothers once showed them.
The central idea of “Two Mothers Remembered” is the unchanging love between a mother and child, even as the mother goes through different stages of life. The poet lovingly recalls two versions of her mother—the first, a strong, caring, and nurturing woman who gave her birth, raised her, and taught her valuable lessons; and the second, an older and weaker version of the same mother, whose memory faded and who became dependent like a child. Although this transformation was painful to witness, the poet accepted both with the same affection and respect. The poem teaches us that true love and respect for parents should continue in every stage of their life, whether they are strong or dependent. It also carries the message that children should treat their mothers with the same devotion their mothers once showed them.
Short-Answer Questions
Q: Who are the “two mothers” mentioned in the poem?
A: The “two mothers” are the same woman — the poet’s mother in two different stages of her life: one strong and caring, and the other weak and forgetful in old age.
A: The “two mothers” are the same woman — the poet’s mother in two different stages of her life: one strong and caring, and the other weak and forgetful in old age.
Q: What did the first mother do for the poet?
A: The first mother gave birth to her, loved and cared for her, and taught her good values for life.
A: The first mother gave birth to her, loved and cared for her, and taught her good values for life.
Q: How did the mother change later in life?
A: With old age and memory loss, the mother became weak and childlike, forgetting things and depending on her daughter for care.
A: With old age and memory loss, the mother became weak and childlike, forgetting things and depending on her daughter for care.
Q: What does the poet mean by “a stranger who dressed in the clothes of my Mother”?
A: It means her mother looked the same outwardly but had changed completely inside because of illness.
A: It means her mother looked the same outwardly but had changed completely inside because of illness.
Q: How did the roles between mother and daughter change?
A: The mother became like a child, and the daughter had to take care of her, becoming her strength and support.
A: The mother became like a child, and the daughter had to take care of her, becoming her strength and support.
Q: What message does the poet give her own children at the end of the poem?
A: She tells them to love both versions of their mother — the strong and the weak — just as she loved both of hers.
A: She tells them to love both versions of their mother — the strong and the weak — just as she loved both of hers.
Q: What is the main feeling expressed in the poem?
A: The poem expresses deep love, care, and acceptance for a mother, even as she changes with time and age.
A: The poem expresses deep love, care, and acceptance for a mother, even as she changes with time and age.
Q: What lesson does the poem teach us?
A: It teaches that children should always love and respect their parents, no matter how much they change with age.
A: It teaches that children should always love and respect their parents, no matter how much they change with age.
Q: Why does the poet say life has come “full circle”?
A: Because the mother who once cared for her daughter now needed care from her daughter, completing the circle of life.
A: Because the mother who once cared for her daughter now needed care from her daughter, completing the circle of life.
Q: What kind of relationship did the poet share with her mother before her illness?
A: They shared a close, loving, and joyful bond, often laughing and spending time together like friends.
A: They shared a close, loving, and joyful bond, often laughing and spending time together like friends.
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