I Remember I Remember

I remember I remember, The house where I was born, The little wind over the sun, Came peeping in at morn;  He never came a wink too soon, Nor brought a day too long, But now, I often wish the night Had borne my breath away.

Stanza 1

The poet reminiscences sizes his childhood nostalgically. He does this in a sentimental manner full of emotions. He evokes positive memories of childhood and remembers the house where he was born. Those beautiful days where the sun's rays came and the beautiful days where they were in proportion. However, in the last two lines the poet talks about his present situation for perhaps full of misery full of suffering and happiness unable to handle the burdens and responsibilities of adulthood.

Interpretation

and the beautiful days where they were in proportion. However, in the last two lines the poet talks about his present situation for perhaps full of misery full of suffering and happiness unable to handle the burdens and responsibilities of adulthood.

I remember, I remember,  The roses, red and white,  The violets, 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! 

Stanza 2

In this stanza the poet talks about the beautiful flowers: the red roses, the lilies, the lilacs, ect. It was among the bushes of these flowers that the robin had its nest. "Those flowers made of light" symbolises the heavenly aura of everything that is bright and pure. The poet also mention about a laburnum that was planted on his brother's birthday. The tree is still living despite of all tragedies disasters and odds it has faced.

Interpretation

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! 

Stanza 3

In this stanza, the poet compares his childhood carefree days to his current adulthood. When he was a child He remembers the joys experienced from nature. He remembers the mild gusts of wind blowing over his face while he was swinging. He felt like a bird as the wind flows beside him. He felt as if his spirit was flying on a swallow. The poet mentions that the pool which is very cool and enjoyable still does not take the burdens and tensions away from him. Through this paragraph, the poet wants to convey the message that simple pleasures of life disappear in adulthood with the responsibilities and commitments in life.

Interpretation

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. 

Stanza 4

The poet mentions the fir trees that seem to reach the sky. This shows that a child dreams and imagination knew no bounds. The poet used to call this childhood ignorance where as it was childhood innocence which made him closer to heaven. The poet realises that his childhood days innocent, carefree and merry. The poet realises all of this when he steps into adulthood which is filled with responsibilities and insecurity. It does not give much pleasure to the poet to realise this fact.

Interpretation