The poet uses ‘I cannot remember my mother’ as a refrain because it highlights his physical loss while contrasting it with the enduring presence of her memory in his senses.
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The title evokes immediate poignancy and melancholy, preparing the reader for a sense of maternal loss. However, it contrasts beautifully with the poem’s discovery of her presence through enduring sensory memories.
The tone is nostalgic, tender, and wistful. The speaker acknowledges losing his mother at an early age yet finds emotional solace and serenity by feeling her abiding presence in everyday sensations and nature.
Although the poem does not have a rhyme scheme, it is enjoyable because it uses rich sensory imagery, lyrical rhythm, and deep emotional resonance.
Two examples of alliteration from the poem are (i) “song that she” (repetition of the ‘s’ sound) (ii) “scent of the morning service” (repetition of the ‘s’ sound). Two prominent alliterations in the poem are “song that she” and “scent ...