PRAISE SONG FOR MY MOTHER

GRACE NICHOLS
 Was born in Georgetown, Guyana and educated in University of Guyana (is located in
the continent of South America and is bordered by Atlantic Ocean

Her religion is Christianity after she was influenced by

the UK`s many religions and multicultural society

Grace Nichols

Lived in a small village on the country`s Her poetry is inspired by her Carribbean
coast until her family moved to the city heritage, folk tales, tradition and her move
when she was 8 years old. between cultures
She then migrated to UK in 1977
 INTRODUCTION

• IT IS A POEM FROM A DAUGHTER PRAISING HER MOTHER AS TO WHO SHE WAS AND WHAT SHE
HAD MEANT TO HER.
• YOU WILL NOTICE THAT IT IS WRITTEN IN THE PAST TENSE.
• THE RELATIONSHIP THEY SHARED IS CLOSE AND THIS IS EVIDENT IN THE USE OF THE PRONOUN ‘
YOU’ REPEATED THROUGHOUT THE POEM.
• IT IS A SIMPLE POEM , STRAIGHTFORWARD IN HER EXPRESSION OF LOVE, AND ALSO IN THE
MEMORY OF HER MOTHER.
• IT IS SO PURE AND MEANINGFUL AS THE WATER ITSELF: THE SOURCE OF LIFE. THIS IS EVIDENT IN
THE SHAPE OF THE POEM, LIKE WAVES.
 STANZA 2

You were It has been commented by many poets that

moon’s eye to me
pull and grained and mantling
women’s emotions are affected by the moon. The
poet likens her late mother to the moon’s eye, as
bright as the moon at night, with a strong hold
on her, perhaps. The verbs such as pull, grained
and mantling are very strong actions.
In short, the poet’s mother was of a strong
character.
 STANZA THREE

You were In this stanza, the persona remembers the

sunrise to me
rise and warm and streaming
mother as a person who is can depend on, as a
sunrise promising a brand new day.
She is also depicted as someone who is warm,
loving and tender and everchanging with time
such as the continuous flow of water. She had led
a life as vibrant as water.
 STANZA FOUR
You were
the fishes red gill to me
the flame tree’s spread to me
the crab’s leg/ the fried plaintain smell
replenishing replenishing.
• The persona’s daughter saw her mother as
vibrant and colourful as the red gills on the
fish, as the flame tree’s spread. She stands out
from her background of her circle of friends ,
perhaps. She is like food to her, the crab’s leg
and a wonderful smell . She restores her by
provoking every senses, just by being so,
replenishing her to be a better and healthier
person.
 LAST LINE

• Go to your wide futures, you said • The world is your oyster, so to speak.
 THEMES

• DAUGHTER`S LOVE AND APPRECIATION

TOWARDS HER LATE MOTHER
• ADMIRATION
• REMINISCING AND REMEMBRANCE
 QUESTIONS
1. WHAT IS SIGNIFICANCE OF USING
REPETITION IN THIS POEM?
2. WHY DID THE POET USE WATER AS A MAIN
IMAGERY IN THE POEM?
3. WHAT ARE THE POET`S FEELINGS ABOUT
HER MOTHER?
ANSWERS
• TO EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT HER
MOTHER WAS IN HER LIFE.
• WATER IS A SOURCE OF LIFE SO IT IS THE
PERSONA`S MOTHER
• THE POET LOVES HER MOM AND ALL THAT
SHE HAD STOOD FOR , HER STRENGTH , HER
WISDOM , ADVICE AND TEACHINGS. SHE IS
AS STRONG AS THE EVERFLOWING WATER.