I Remember, I Remember
by Thomas Hood
I remember, I remember,
The house where I was born,
The little window where the sun
Came peeping in at morn;
He never came a wink too soon,
Nor brought too long a day,
But now, I often wish the night
Had borne my breath away!
I remember, I remember,
The roses, red and white,
The vi'lets, and the lily-cups,
Those flowers made of light!
The lilacs where the robin built,
And where my brother set
The laburnum on his birthday,—
The tree is living yet!
I remember, I remember,
Where I was used to swing,
And thought the air must rush as fresh
To swallows on the wing;
My spirit flew in feathers then,
That is so heavy now,
And summer pools could hardly cool
The fever on my brow!
I remember, I remember,
The fir trees dark and high;
I used to think their slender tops
Were close against the sky:
It was a childish ignorance,
But now 'tis little joy
To know I'm farther off from heav'n
Than when I was a boy.
Introduction
"I Remember, I Remember" is a poem written by the English poet Thomas Hood.
The main theme of the poem "I Remember, I Remember" is nostalgia and the longing for the carefree and joyful days of childhood, contrasted with the difficulties and sorrows of adulthood.
The poem is structured in four stanzas of 8 lines each, and the rhyme scheme is regular. The second and fourth, as well as the sixth and eighth lines of every stanza, rhyme.
In each stanza, the poet draws comparisons between his present adult life and his past childhood days. He perceives his childhood as a joyful time in contrast to his current painful existence.
Summary
In this poem, the poet speaks about the nostalgic memories of his childhood and how his current life is a contrast to his past. He narrates about his childhood home and how the passing of time was once a source of pleasure, but now he longs for death. He mentions about the garden and the different flowers he used to see. He also mentions the laburnum tree his brother planted on his birthday. The poet remembers swinging and feeling free, but now he feels heavy and burdened. He also talks about his childhood belief that the tops of fir trees reached heaven and how his current rational mind takes away that joy. Overall, the poem portrays the contrast between the poet's happy past and his current painful present.
Explanation
Stanza 1
I remember, I remember,
The house where I was born,
The little window where the sun
Came peeping in at morn;
He never came a wink too soon,
Nor brought too long a day,
But now, I often wish the night
Had borne my breath away!
GLOSSARY
morn - morning
wink - close and open one eye quickly
borne - carried or taken away
The poet is reminiscing about his childhood and remembering his birthplace, specifically the little window in his house where the sun would shine in during the morning. He notes that the sun never came too early and and the day was never too long.
He is reflecting on the carefree nature of childhood, where time seemed to pass more slowly and days were filled with innocence and wonder. but now, as an adult, he often wishes that the night had taken his life instead of having to face the struggles of the day.
Stanza 2
I remember, I remember,
The roses, red and white,
The vi'lets, and the lily-cups,
Those flowers made of light!
The lilacs where the robin built,
And where my brother set
The laburnum on his birthday,—
The tree is living yet!
GLOSSARY
vi'lets - violet (a plant with bluish-purple flowers)
lily-cups - a plant species
tossing - a small tree with pinkish-violet flowers
robin - a small, brown bird found in Europe
laburnum - a small tree with groups of yellow flowers hanging down
The second stanza describes the speaker's memories of various flowers and trees from his childhood. The speaker recalls the colors and beauty of roses, violets, and lilies, which he describes as "flowers made of light."
He also remembers the lilacs where a robin (bird species) had built its nest and the laburnum tree that his brother had planted on his birthday, which still stands.
Stanza 3
I remember, I remember,
Where I was used to swing,
And thought the air must rush as fresh
To swallows on the wing;
My spirit flew in feathers then,
That is so heavy now,
And summer pools could hardly cool
The fever on my brow!
GLOSSARY
pool - a small area of still water
brow - a person's forehead
In the third stanza, the speaker reminisces about his childhood memories of swinging, and how he imagined the experience to be similar to that of flying birds. He felt light and free, like a bird in flight, and the air rushing past him made him feel energized.
However, now as an adult, the speaker feels weighed down by the burdens of life. Even the cool waters of summer pools cannot ease the feverish feeling of the speaker's brow.
Stanza 4
I remember, I remember,
The fir trees dark and high;
I used to think their slender tops
Were close against the sky:
It was a childish ignorance,
But now 'tis little joy
To know I'm farther off from heav'n
Than when I was a boy.
GLOSSARY
fir - a tall evergreen tree that has thin needle-like leaves
slender - thin
ignorance - lack of knowledge
farther off - far away
heav'n - heaven
In the final stanza, the poet recalls the fir trees that were tall and dark, and how he used to think their thin tops were close to the sky. He acknowledges that this was a childish ignorance, but it was a joyful thought for him as a child.
However, now that he is older, he realizes that he is farther away from heaven than he was when he was a boy and it no longer brings the same joy as before.
Questions and Answers
What is the short summary of the poem, "I Remember, I Remember"?
"I Remember, I Remember" is a nostalgic poem by Thomas Hood, reflecting on the poet's childhood memories of a rural village. The poem celebrates the simplicity and innocence of childhood, contrasting it with the complexities of adulthood. Through vivid imagery and emotional reminiscences, Hood evokes a sense of longing for the past and a yearning for the carefree days of youth.
What is the central idea of the poem?
The central idea of the poem "I Remember, I Remember" is nostalgia for the simplicity and innocence of childhood. Through evocative descriptions and heartfelt memories, the poem conveys a deep yearning to revisit the uncomplicated joys of youth.
What is the significance of the title of the poem, "I Remember, I Remember"?
The title "I Remember, I Remember" highlights the poem's main theme of reminiscence and nostalgia. It signals the speaker's strong emotional attachment to memories from the past. This repetition of "I remember" emphasizes the significance of these recollections and their impact on the speaker's life.
What emotions does the poet express towards his childhood memories in the poem?
In the poem "I Remember, I Remember", the poet feels both happy and a little sad when thinking about his childhood. He remembers the good times with fondness but also wishes he could go back to that carefree time.
Why does the poet want the night to have borne his breath away?
The poet wants the night to have borne his breath away because he does not want to face the realities and challenges of life.
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