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 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 her love, which follows me yet,
along with examples in life that 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 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.
1. How are the two mothers different from each other?
The two mothers of the poet are different from each other. Primarily, they are diverse by design. The first mother gave birth to the speaker, nurtured her and launched her career. On the other hand, the second mother depends on her daughter. The first mother is her biological mother whereas the second mother is her daughter.
2. How are they the same?
The two mothers are same in some cases. For example, they have the same name, same identity. Both are loved by their daughter, both have same dress, they look the same, at least at arm’s length.
3. What did the first mother do to the speaker?
The first mother gave birth to the speaker, she nurtured her and launched her career. She is the biological mother of the speaker.
4. Who was the speaker's second mother? Describe her briefly.
The speaker’s second mother was the first mother in her old age. This second mother’s mind is clouded, she looks like the first mother at arm’s length, yet she is different from her in many cases. This second mother depends on her daughter.
5. What would be the speaker's advice to her own children?
The speaker’s advice to her own children was to love their both mothers in the same way.
6. Who are the three women referred to in the poem? Briefly describe them.
The three women are the speaker’s mother in the young age and old age and the speaker herself. The first mother gave birth to the speaker, nurtured her and launched her career. The second mother depends on her daughter. And the daughter is the observer and narrator of these two mothers.
7. What should children do to their mother and why?
They should love their mother in her both ages. They should do this because their mother gives birth to them, nurtures them and launches their career. If they do not love their mother in her old age, their children will do the same when they become old.
8. Do you like this poem? Why?
Yes, I like this poem as it increases our love for our mothers showing how they give birth to us, nurture us and launch our career. It also gives us advice to love them in their old age.
9. Do you think it is only the daughter who should obey the message of the poem? Justify your answer.
No. I think a son also should equally realize the changes that come to their mothers in their old ages. Mothers become weak and feeble in their old ages and start depending on their children. Both the sons and the daughters should realize that mothers become children again in their old age. So, they have to take care of them the same way their mothers took care of them when they were children.
10. How does the speaker’s role change in the poem?
The speaker’s role changes from a care free child to a responsible caregiver. As her mother gets old and weak, the speaker take the responsibility to support and nursing her mother. This type of role reversal reflects the natural cycle of life.
