Two Mothers Remembered

- Joann Snow Duncanson

1 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 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.

She gave me 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.

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.

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.

And if my own children should come to a day,

When a new Mother comes and the old goes away.

I'd ask of them nothing that I didn't do.

Love both of your Mothers as both have loved you.

Two Mothers Remembered
Joann Snow Duncanson

I had two Mothers – two Mothers I claim
→ আমার ছিল দুই মা, দুই মাকেই আমি নিজের বলে দাবি করি।

Two different people, yet with the same name.
→ দুজন ভিন্ন মানুষ, তবু একই নামে পরিচিত।

Two separate women, diverse by design,
→ দুই আলাদা নারী, স্বভাব ও সত্তায় ভিন্ন,

But I loved them both because they were mine.
→ কিন্তু আমি দুজনকেই ভালোবেসেছি, কারণ তাঁরা ছিলেন আমার।

The first was the Mother who carried me here,
→ প্রথমজন সেই মা, যিনি আমাকে গর্ভে ধারণ করে পৃথিবীতে এনেছিলেন,

Gave birth and nurtured and launched my career.
→ জন্ম দিয়েছেন, লালন-পালন করেছেন এবং জীবনের পথে এগিয়ে দিয়েছেন।

She was the one whose features I bear,
→ তাঁরই মুখের আদল আমি বহন করি,

Complete with the facial expressions I wear.
→ এমনকি আমার মুখভঙ্গিতেও তাঁর ছাপ রয়ে গেছে।

She gave me her love, which follows me yet,
→ তিনি আমাকে তাঁর ভালোবাসা দিয়েছেন, যা এখনও আমার সঙ্গে আছে,

Along with the examples in life she set.
→ সঙ্গে রেখে গেছেন জীবনের আদর্শ ও উদাহরণ।

As I got older, she somehow younger grew,
→ আমি যত বড় হতে লাগলাম, তিনি যেন ততই শিশুসুলভ হয়ে উঠলেন,

And we’d laugh as just Mothers and daughters do.
→ আর আমরা হাসতাম, যেমন মা ও মেয়ে হাসে।

But then came the time that her mind clouded so,
→ কিন্তু একসময় তাঁর মন স্মৃতির কুয়াশায় আচ্ছন্ন হয়ে গেল,

And I sensed that the Mother I knew would soon go.
→ আর আমি অনুভব করলাম, যে মাকে আমি চিনতাম তিনি শিগগিরই হারিয়ে যাবেন।

So quickly she changed and turned into the other,
→ খুব দ্রুত তিনি বদলে গেলেন এবং অন্য এক রূপ নিলেন,

A stranger who dressed in the clothes of my Mother.
→ যেন এক অপরিচিতা, যে আমার মায়ের পোশাক পরে আছে।

Oh, she looked the same, at least at arm’s length,
→ আহা, দূর থেকে দেখতে তিনি আগের মতোই ছিলেন,

But now she was the child and I was her strength.
→ কিন্তু তখন তিনি ছিলেন শিশুর মতো, আর আমি ছিলাম তাঁর ভরসা।

We’d come full circle, we women three,
→ জীবন যেন এক পূর্ণ বৃত্ত সম্পন্ন করল, আমরা তিন নারী,

My mother the first, the second and me.
→ আমার প্রথম মা, দ্বিতীয় মা এবং আমি।

And if my own children should come to a day,
→ আর যদি কোনোদিন আমার নিজের সন্তানদের জীবনেও এমন দিন আসে,

When a new Mother comes and the old goes away,
→ যখন নতুন এক মা আসে এবং পুরোনো মা হারিয়ে যায়,

I’d ask of them nothing that I didn’t do.
→ তবে আমি তাদের কাছে এমন কিছুই চাইব না, যা আমি নিজে করিনি।

Love both of your Mothers as both have loved you.
→ তোমার দুই মাকেই ভালোবাসবে, যেমন দুজনেই তোমাকে ভালোবেসেছেন।

Summary in Easy English

The poem "Two Mothers Remembered" is about a daughter and her mother. The daughter says she had "two mothers," but they were really the same person at different stages of life.

The first mother was loving, strong, and caring. She gave birth to her daughter, raised her, and taught her important lessons. As time passed, the mother grew old and began to lose her memory and independence. She changed so much that she seemed like a different person.

The daughter then had to take care of her mother, just as her mother had once taken care of her. Their roles were reversed. The poem shows how life comes full circle and teaches us to love, respect, and care for our parents when they become old, just as they cared for us when we were young.

Main Theme: Love, aging, family responsibility, and the changing relationship between parents and children.

কবিতার সারাংশ (বাংলায়)

"Two Mothers Remembered" কবিতাটি একজন মেয়ে এবং তার মায়ের সম্পর্ক নিয়ে লেখা। কবিতায় মেয়েটি বলে যে তার "দুই মা" ছিল, কিন্তু আসলে তারা একই মানুষ, জীবনের দুটি ভিন্ন পর্যায়ে।

প্রথম মা ছিলেন স্নেহশীলা, শক্তিশালী এবং যত্নশীল। তিনি মেয়েকে জন্ম দিয়েছেন, বড় করে তুলেছেন এবং জীবনের শিক্ষা দিয়েছেন। সময়ের সঙ্গে সঙ্গে মা বৃদ্ধ হয়ে পড়েন এবং তাঁর স্মৃতিশক্তি ও স্বাভাবিক ক্ষমতা কমে যায়। তখন তিনি এতটাই বদলে যান যে মনে হয় তিনি যেন অন্য একজন মানুষ।

এরপর মেয়েকেই মায়ের যত্ন নিতে হয়, যেমন মা একসময় তার যত্ন নিয়েছিলেন। অর্থাৎ, মা ও মেয়ের ভূমিকা পাল্টে যায়। কবিতাটি দেখায় যে জীবন একটি পূর্ণ চক্রের মতো। এটি আমাদের শেখায় যে বাবা-মা বৃদ্ধ হলে তাদের ভালোবাসা, সম্মান এবং যত্ন করা উচিত, কারণ তারা ছোটবেলায় আমাদের একইভাবে ভালোবেসে যত্ন করেছেন।

মূল ভাব: মাতৃস্নেহ, বার্ধক্য, পারিবারিক দায়িত্ব এবং মা-সন্তানের চিরন্তন ভালোবাসা।

Theme of the Poem "Two Mothers Remembered"

The main theme of the poem is the enduring love between a mother and daughter and the reversal of their roles as the mother grows old.

The poem shows how a caring mother raises and supports her child, but later, because of old age and memory loss, the daughter becomes the caregiver. It highlights the cycle of life, where children eventually care for their parents just as their parents once cared for them. The poem also emphasizes love, gratitude, family responsibility, aging, and compassion.

Theme (Short Version):
The poem celebrates the lifelong bond between mother and child and teaches that children should love and care for their aging parents with the same devotion that they received from them.

বাংলা

কবিতাটির মূল ভাব (Theme) হলো মা ও সন্তানের চিরন্তন ভালোবাসা, বার্ধক্যের কারণে ভূমিকা পরিবর্তন, এবং পারিবারিক দায়িত্ববোধ।

কবিতায় দেখানো হয়েছে যে মা যেমন ছোটবেলায় সন্তানের যত্ন নেন, তেমনি বার্ধক্যে সন্তানকেও মায়ের যত্ন নিতে হয়। এটি জীবনের পূর্ণচক্রকে তুলে ধরে এবং সন্তানদের তাদের বৃদ্ধ বাবা-মায়ের প্রতি ভালোবাসা, শ্রদ্ধা ও সহানুভূতি দেখানোর শিক্ষা দেয়।

সংক্ষিপ্ত Theme:
মা ও সন্তানের গভীর ভালোবাসা, জীবনের চক্রে ভূমিকার পরিবর্তন এবং বৃদ্ধ পিতামাতার প্রতি সন্তানের দায়িত্ববোধ।

Answer the following questions:

1. What was the weather like when Mary went to bring the cattle home?

The weather was very stormy and rough. Strong winds were blowing, and the sea was wild with high waves.

2. Look at some words, phrases and sentences that have been repeated several times. Explain why the poet has done that.

The poet repeats some words and phrases to emphasize the danger of the storm, the sadness of Mary's death, and to create a musical rhythm in the poem. Repetition also helps readers remember the main ideas and feelings.

3. How has the poet described the sea?

The poet has described the sea as fierce, wild, and powerful. The waves were rough and dangerous, making the sea a threat to anyone near it.

4. Narrate the story of Mary in your own words.

Mary was a brave young girl who went to bring the cattle home during bad weather. While returning, she was caught in the stormy sea. The strong waves swept her away, and she drowned. Her death made everyone sad, and the poem remembers her courage and tragic fate.

5. Suppose you were walking on the shore with a couple of your friends while Mary was drowning. Describe what you would have done.

If I had been there with my friends, I would have immediately called for help and alerted nearby people. I would have tried to rescue Mary only if it was safe to do so. We would have looked for a rope, a boat, or any floating object to help her and sought assistance from experienced rescuers as quickly as possible.

Questions from English for today

1. How are the two mothers different from each other in the poem Two Mothers Remembered?
The first mother was strong, loving, caring, and independent. The second mother was old, weak, forgetful, and dependent on her daughter. Though they were the same person, old age changed her greatly.

2. How are the two mothers the same in the poem Two Mothers Remembered?
The two mothers are the same because they are actually the speaker's own mother. Both shared the same identity and received the speaker's love and affection.

3. What did the first mother do to the speaker in the poem Two Mothers Remembered?
The first mother gave birth to the speaker, nurtured her, loved her, taught her life lessons, and helped her grow into an independent person.

4. Who was the speaker's second mother? Describe her briefly according to the poem Two Mothers Remembered.
The speaker's second mother was her aged mother whose mind had become clouded by old age. She seemed like a different person, becoming dependent and childlike, needing care and support from her daughter.

5. What would be the speaker's advice to her own children in the poem Two Mothers Remembered?
The speaker would advise her children to love and care for their parents in old age just as their parents loved and cared for them when they were young.

6. Who are the three women referred to in the poem Two Mothers Remembered? Briefly describe them.
The three women are:

• The first mother: The caring and strong mother who raised the speaker.
• The second mother: The same mother in old age, weak and dependent.
• The speaker: The daughter who later becomes her mother's caregiver and source of strength.

7. What should children do to their mother in the poem Two Mothers Remembered? Why?
Children should love, respect, and take care of their mother, especially in her old age, because she cared for them with great love, sacrifice, and devotion when they were young.

8. Do you like the poem Two Mothers Remembered? Why?
Yes, I like the poem because it beautifully expresses the deep bond between a mother and her child. It teaches us the importance of gratitude, love, and caring for our parents when they grow old.

More Questions for practice

(a) Which two different mothers does the poet refer to in the poem?

The poet refers to the same mother in two different stages of life. The first mother is the loving, caring, and strong mother who raised her. The second mother is the aged and dependent mother who lost her memory and needed care.

(b) Did the speaker love both of the mothers? Why?

Yes, the speaker loved both mothers because both were actually her own mother. She loved her in her strength as well as in her weakness.

(c) Who was the first mother? What did she do to the poet?

The first mother was the poet's biological mother. She gave birth to her, nurtured her, loved her, and guided her through life.

(d) When did the poet sense that her mother would soon pass away?

The poet sensed it when her mother's mind became clouded and she started losing her memory and awareness.

(e) Why does the poet call her biological mother the second mother?

She calls her the second mother because old age transformed her mother's personality so much that she seemed like a different person.

(f) Why should children love their mothers in their old age?

Children should love their mothers in old age because mothers cared for them with love and sacrifice when they were young.

(g) "A mother's love for her children is divine." Do you support it? Why?

Yes, I support it because a mother's love is selfless, unconditional, and enduring. She always wants the best for her children.

(h) How do mothers and children reverse their mutual roles in the poem?

In childhood, the mother takes care of the child. In old age, the child takes care of the mother. Thus their roles are reversed.

(i) How does the poem represent a divine relationship between the poet and her mother?

The poem shows deep, unconditional love, sacrifice, care, and devotion between mother and daughter, making their relationship sacred and divine.

(j) What changes does the speaker observe in her mother?

The speaker notices that her mother becomes forgetful, mentally confused, dependent, and childlike due to old age.

(k) What does "full circle" mean in the poem?

"Full circle" means life has come back to its starting point. The daughter now cares for her mother just as the mother once cared for her.

(l) How does the poem portray unconditional love?

The daughter continues to love and care for her mother despite her physical and mental decline, showing unconditional love.

(m) What does the second mother symbolize?

The second mother symbolizes old age, memory loss, dependence, and the vulnerability that comes with aging.

(n) What role does the speaker play for her second mother?

The speaker becomes her mother's caregiver, supporter, and source of strength.

(o) What are the responsibilities of children mentioned in the poem?

Children should respect, love, support, and care for their parents, especially when they become old and dependent.

(p) What is the theme of the poem?

The theme of the poem is the everlasting bond between mother and child, the cycle of life, aging, and children's responsibility toward their parents.

(q) "We'd come full circle" - What did the speaker mean?

The speaker meant that life had completed a cycle: the mother who once cared for her daughter now needed the daughter's care.

(r) What does the speaker admire about her first mother?

The speaker admires her mother's love, care, guidance, sacrifices, and the values she taught her.

(s) How does the poem highlight mutual love?

The poem shows the mother's love for her daughter in childhood and the daughter's love and care for her mother in old age.

(t) How does the poet describe the "Second Mother"?

The poet describes the second mother as a changed, confused, dependent, and childlike version of her original mother.

(u) How does the poet portray the mother-daughter bond?

The poet portrays it as deep, loving, lifelong, and unbreakable, remaining strong even through old age and illness.

(v) What would be the speaker's advice to our children?

The speaker's advice is to love and care for their parents in old age just as their parents loved and cared for them in childhood.

pecial Note for SSC Candidates (Dhaka Board)

Two Mothers Remembered by Joann Snow Duncanson

🔹 Title: Two Mothers Remembered
🔹 Poet: Joann Snow Duncanson
🔹 Genre: Narrative and Reflective Poem

Short Note

In the poem Two Mothers Remembered, the poet talks about her mother in two different stages of life. The first mother is the loving, caring, and strong woman who gave birth to her and raised her with affection and guidance. As time passes, the mother grows old, loses her memory, and becomes dependent on others. The poet calls this changed version of her mother the second mother.

The poem beautifully shows the cycle of life. In childhood, the mother takes care of her daughter, but in old age, the daughter becomes the caregiver. The speaker loves both versions of her mother equally. Through this poem, the poet teaches us to love, respect, and care for our parents when they become old and helpless.

Important Themes

• Motherly love
• Aging and memory loss
• Role reversal between parent and child
• Family responsibility
• Unconditional love and care

Key Line

"We'd come full circle, we women three."

Meaning: Life has completed a cycle. The daughter now cares for her mother just as the mother once cared for her.

SSC Exam Point (Very Important)

✅ The "Two Mothers" are not two different women.
✅ They are the same mother in two different stages of life:

1. The caring, strong mother.
2. The aged, dependent mother.

Moral Lesson

Children should love, respect, and care for their parents in old age because parents dedicate their lives to raising and supporting their children.

SSC Special Note with Sample Questions

Very Short Summary

The poet remembers her mother in two stages of life. The first mother was loving, caring, and strong. In old age, she became weak, forgetful, and dependent, which made her seem like a second mother. The daughter then cared for her mother as the mother had once cared for her. The poem highlights love, gratitude, and responsibility toward aging parents.

Important Characters

First Mother

• The poet's biological mother.
• Gave birth to and raised the poet.
• Loving, caring, and independent.

Second Mother

• The same mother in old age.
• Forgetful, weak, and dependent.
• Needed the poet's care and support.

Speaker (Daughter)

• The poet herself.
• Loves both versions of her mother.
• Becomes her mother's caregiver.

Important Themes

1. Motherly Love
2. Aging and Memory Loss
3. Family Responsibility
4. Role Reversal
5. Unconditional Love
6. Cycle of Life

Important Quotations

"I had two Mothers - two Mothers I claim."

Meaning: The poet refers to the same mother in two different stages of life.

"But now she was the child and I was her strength."

Meaning: The mother became dependent and the daughter became her caregiver.

"We'd come full circle."

Meaning: Life completed a circle; the daughter now cared for her mother as her mother once cared for her.

Sample SSC Questions and Answers

1. Who are the two mothers in the poem?

Answer: The two mothers are actually the same woman in two different stages of life: the strong and caring mother of the poet's childhood and the weak, dependent mother of her old age.

2. Why did the poet love both mothers?

Answer: The poet loved both mothers because they were her own mother. She loved her in both her strength and weakness.

3. Why is the old mother called the second mother?

Answer: The old mother is called the second mother because old age and memory loss changed her so much that she seemed like a different person.

4. What does "full circle" mean?

Answer: "Full circle" means life has returned to its starting point. The daughter now looks after her mother just as her mother once looked after her.

5. What advice does the poet give to children?

Answer: The poet advises children to love and care for their aging parents because parents lovingly care for their children when they are young.

Important SSC Short Questions

Q. What is the theme of the poem?

Ans: The poem's theme is the everlasting love between mother and child and the responsibility of children to care for their parents in old age.

Q. What role does the speaker play for her second mother?

Ans: She becomes her mother's caregiver, supporter, and source of strength.

Q. How does the poem portray unconditional love?

Ans: The daughter continues to love and care for her mother despite her old age and memory loss.

Q. What changes does the poet observe in her mother?

Ans: She becomes forgetful, weak, dependent, and childlike.

Q. Why should children care for their parents?

Ans: Because parents devote their lives to raising and supporting their children.

SSC Examination Tip

✅ Remember: The "Two Mothers" are not two different women.

First Mother = Young, caring, strong mother
Second Mother = Old, dependent mother

This is one of the most important points frequently asked in SSC exams.