The poem is about the speaker's relationship with their mother, but it's also about the mother-child bond in general—a link as old as mankind itself. In that respect, the non-specific historical context refers to the endurance of the mother-child relationship. It may be an indication of a healthy one when they are separated by geography but connected by technology. Mother has two meanings in the poem: she is both the speaker's own personal mother and also a metonym for their entire family unit. The word comes from the Latin maternus, meaning "of or relating to a mother," and thus it describes someone who is responsible for raising children. In modern usage, mother can also mean "that which brings something to life," such as plants or animals. In that sense, it is used to refer to a role model who provides guidance and inspiration. Last but not least, mother can also mean "that which divides" or "a boundary." In this case, it refers to the border between two different territories or countries. This last definition is given because the poem uses Mother England to describe Britain, which at the time was divided into England and Wales. These are just some of the many ways in which the word mother can be interpreted. No matter how you choose to define it, though, it's clear that this single word can have many different meanings depending on the situation.