How do the speaker's reflections in the poem help develop a theme? The speaker transforms the way she experiences her relationship with her mother, emphasizing the theme of release and acceptance. The speaker accepts that her ties to her mother remained strong even after she suffered the separation of death, emphasizing the theme of familial love. The speaker remembers the painful times in her O relationship with her mother, emphasizing the theme of human suffering. The speaker considers how she and her mother worked to improve their relationship, emphasizing the theme of persistence and dedication.