📘 Two Mothers Remembered by Joann Snow Duncanson

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 arms 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.

This poem is about a daughter’s deep emotional journey with her mother, especially when the mother suffers from memory loss (likely dementia). It shows how roles reverse: the mother becomes like a child, and the daughter becomes the caregiver.

✍️ Summary

The speaker says she had “two mothers,” though they were the same person. One was her real, caring mother who gave birth to her and raised her with love. As time passed, the mother became mentally weak and changed completely. She no longer behaved like the same person.

At that stage, the daughter had to take care of her mother like a child. The roles were reversed. The daughter accepted both versions of her mother and loved them equally. Finally, she advises her own children to do the same if such a situation happens.

🎯 Themes

• Love and sacrifice
• Aging and illness
• Role reversal (presponsibility
• Identity change
• Family responsibility

🔍 Symbolism

• “Two mothers” → Same person in two different mental states
• “Stranger in mother’s clothes” → Loss of identity
• “Full circle” → Life cycle (child → adult → dependent again)

🎨 Figures of Speech

• Metaphor: “Two mothers” (same person, different states)
• Imagery: “Stranger dressed in the clothes…”
• Alliteration: “mother…mind…me”
• Repetition: “two mothers” for emphasis
• Contrast: Past loving mother vs present helpless mother

🧠 Quick Revision Points

• Two mothers = same person, different stages
• Theme = love + responsibility
• Key idea = role reversal
• Ending message = unconditional love

📌 20 Important Questions & Answers for SSC Candidates from the poem Two Mothers Remembered

1. Why does the speaker say she had two mothers?
Ans. Because her mother changed mentally and behaved like a different person.

2. Who was the “first mother”?
Ans. Her real, loving, biological mother.

3. What happened to the mother later?
Ans. She suffered from memory loss and personality change.

4. What does “stranger in my mother’s clothes” mean?
Ans. She looked the same but acted differently.

5. What is the main theme?
Ans.  Love and responsibility toward parents.

6. What causes the mother’s change in the poem?
Ans. The mother’s change is caused by old age and mental weakness, which affect her memory and behavior.

7. What is role reversal?
Ans. The daughter becomes the caregiver.

8. Why is the poem emotional?
Ans. It shows loss and deep love.

9. What does “full circle” mean?
Ans.  Life returning to its starting point.

10. How did the mother influence the speaker?
Ans.  Through love and life lessons.

11. What is the tone of the poem?
Ans.  Emotional and reflective.

12. What lesson does the poem teach?
Ans. Respect and care for parents always.

13. Who are “we women three”?
Ans. The past mother, present mother, and daughter.

14. What does the speaker advise her children?
Ans. To love their parents in all conditions.

15. What type of poem is this?
Ans. Narrative and emotional poem.

16. How does the mother change?
Ans. Mentally, not physically.

17. What is the daughter’s reaction?
Ans. She accepts and cares for her mother.

18. What is the significance of memory loss?
Ans. It changes identity and relationships.

19. What does “younger grew” mean?
Ans. The mother became dependent like a child.

20. Why is the poem important for students?
Ans. It teaches humanity, empathy, and family values.

Free Download The PDF : Two Mothers Remembered Poem Full Analysis

📖 Line by Line Simplification

1. “I had two mothers – two mothers I claim”
→ The speaker says she feels like she had two different mothers.
2. “two different people, yet with the same name.”
→ They are actually the same person but behaved differently.
3. “Two separate women, diverse by design,”
→ Their personalities became very different.
4. “but I loved them both because they were mine.”
→ She loved both versions of her mother.

5. “The first was the mother who carried me here,”
→ The real mother who gave birth to her.
6. “gave birth and nurtured and launched my career.”
→ She raised and supported her life.
7. “She was the one whose features I bear,”
→ The speaker looks like her mother.
8. “complete with the facial expressions I wear.”
→ Even her expressions are similar.

9. “She gave her love, which follows me yet,”
→ The mother’s love still influences her.
10. “along with examples in life that she set.”
→ She also taught her life lessons.
11. “As I got older, she somehow younger grew,”
→ As the daughter matured, the mother became weaker.
12. “and we’d laugh as just mothers and daughters do.”
→ They shared happy moments.

13. “But then came the time that her mind clouded so,”
→ The mother’s memory became unclear.
14. “and I sensed that the mother I knew would soon go.”
→ The daughter realized change was coming.
15. “So quickly she changed and turned into the other,”
→ The mother became like a different person.
16. “a stranger dressed in the clothes of my mother.”
→ She looked the same but acted like a stranger.

17. “Oh, she looked the same, at least at arm’s length,”
→ Physically she didn’t change much.
18. “but now she was the child and I was her strength.”
→ Role reversal: mother became dependent.
19. “We’d come full circle, we women three,”
→ Three stages: mother, changed mother, daughter.
20. “my mother the first, the second and me.”
→ All connected in a cycle.

21. “And if my own children should come to a day,”
→ She speaks to the next generation.
22. “when a new mother comes and the old goes away,”
→ When parents change due to age.
23. “I’d ask of them nothing that I didn’t do.”
→ She expects the same care she gave.
24. “Love both of your mothers as both have loved you.”
→ Love your parents in all stages.

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