My Mother at Sixty-six

The poem captures the fear of aging and separation

NCERT CLASS 12 FLAMINGO - PROSE & POETRY Q&A

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10/25/2024

                 Summary of the poem

The poem "My Mother at Sixty-Six" by Kamala Das poignantly captures a daughter's emotions toward her aging mother. While driving from her parents' home to the Cochin airport last Friday morning, the poet glanced at her mother, who was sitting beside her, dozing with her mouth open. She noticed that her mother's complexion had taken on an ash-like hue. This change led the poet to liken her mother to a corpse, reflecting the stark reality of her aging. Although the poet feels deep sadness about her mother's decline, she carries this pain with her. To escape her sorrow, she chooses to focus on the vibrant scenes outside the car window—lively trees and children playing—contrasting their youthful energy with her mother's frail appearance.

She feels happy when she looks at the young trees, as they appear to be full of life and energy. Their vibrant nature is reminiscent of children, who come spilling out of their homes, filled with joy and merriment. When the poet observes the children, she sees their happiness and bliss. There is a contrast between the vitality of the trees and children and the frail appearance of her aging mother. In seeking solace, the poet finds joy in the lively scene outside, highlighting the difference between the exuberance of youth and her mother's decline.

As the car arrived at Cochin Airport, after the poet's luggage was checked by security, she took a final glance at her mother. She noticed that her mother had become wan, pale like a late winter's moon. The poet compares her mother to the winter moon, which lacks much radiance during that season. This comparison symbolizes the diminished energy of both the moon and the aged mother, drained by the struggles of life.

The poet experiences the familiar ache of losing her mother. She has always feared that her mother might die soon, a worry she has carried since childhood. As she moves towards new opportunities, she is acutely aware that her mother's time may be limited. Yet, all she says is, "See you soon, Amma," as she smiles and leaves her mother's side. The poet realizes her mother’s vulnerability and the inevitability of death, which deeply saddens her. Through this intimate scene, she conveys the pain of aging and separation, highlighting themes of love and longing that resonate with humanity.

Click on the picture below to see a video based on the poem

My Mother at Sixty-sixMy Mother at Sixty-six

My Mother at Sixty-six  - Kamala Das                      

(Literary Devices/Figures of speech of the poem are given below)   

Additional Questions and Answers:-   

  • 1. Where and when were the poet and her mother driving to?

Answer:- The poet and her mother were driving from her parent's home to Cochin last Friday morning.

  • 2. How did the mother appear to the poet when she looked at her at first?

Answer:- The mother was dozing, open-mouthed and her face was ashen like that of a corpse.

  • 3. How did the poet put the painful thought away?

Answer:- The poet puts the painful thought away by looking out at the young trees sprinting and the merry children spilling out of their homes.

  • 4. How did the mother appear to the poet after the airport’s security check?

Answer:- After the airport’s security check, the mother’s appearance looked wan, pale as a late winter’s moon.

  • 5. What was the old familiar ache that the poet experiences?

Answer:- The old familiar ache that the poet experiences was the fear that her mother may die at any time soon.

  • 6. In spite of having the fear that her mother might die soon, what is done by the poet?

Answer:- In spite of experiencing the fear that her mother might die soon, the poet says to her ‘see you soon, Amma’ and smiled at her.

  • 7. How are the young trees described?

Answer:- The young trees are described as sprinting.

  • 8. Why are the children spilling out of their homes?

Answer:- The children are spilling out of their homes because of excitement and joy and are eager to play outside as they are full of energy and life.

  • 9. What does the poet's smile convey?

Answer:- The poet's smile conveys to the mother an assurance and a moral support that all would be fine. Her words and continuous smile are an attempt to hide her real feelings and overcome the ache that is inside her heart.

  • 10.What are the feelings of the poet about her aged mother?

Answer:- The poet experiences profound sorrow and concern for her elderly mother as she observes her frailty and external appearance, comparing her to a corpse. She is overwhelmed by the fear of losing her, reflecting the anxiety of separation and mortality. In order to conceal these emotions of pain she maintains a brave facade by smiling at her mother before departing from her revealing a mix of helplessness, love and emotional vulnerability.

Literary devices

1. Simile

  • A comparison using "like" or "as" to create vivid imagery.

  • Example:

    • "Her face ashen like that of a corpse" compares the mother's pale face to a lifeless corpse, emphasizing her fragility and old age.

    • "wan, pale as a late winter’s moon" compares the mother to a fading moon, symbolizing her aging and impending death.

2. Metaphor

  • An implied comparison to convey deeper meanings.

  • Example: The mother’s aging is metaphorically compared to "a late winter’s moon," suggesting her decline and approaching end.

3. Imagery

  • The use of descriptive language to create vivid pictures in the reader's mind.

  • Example:

    • "Driving from my parent’s home to Cochin last Friday morning" evokes a sense of a journey, both literal and metaphorical.

    • "Children spilling out of their homes" provides contrasting imagery of vitality and energy.

4. Personification

  • "trees sprinting" where trees are personified as having life like human beings and sprinting roadside.  

  • Example: The vitality of children playing contrasts with the mother's frailty, symbolizing the cycle of life.

5. Contrast

  • Juxtaposing opposing ideas to highlight differences.

  • Example: The vitality of children playing contrasts with the mother's frailty, symbolizing the cycle of life.

6. Alliteration

  • The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

  • Example:

    • "My mother" and "as a late winter’s moon" provide a rhythmic quality to the poem.

7. Enjambment

  • Continuation of a sentence or clause beyond the end of a line.

  • Example: The poem flows across lines without punctuation, mimicking the continuous flow of thoughts and emotions. 

8. Symbolism

  • Objects or images used to signify deeper meanings.

  • Example:

    • The "late winter’s moon" symbolizes old age and the fading vitality of life.

    • The "corpse-like" face of the mother symbolizes the inevitability of death.

9. Repetition

  • Repetition of words or phrases for emphasis.

  • Example: The repeated use of "smile and smile and smile" reflects the poet’s attempt to mask her sadness and maintain composure.

10. Tone

  • The tone of the poem shifts from nostalgic to melancholic, emphasizing the poet’s emotional turmoil as she confronts her mother's aging.

11. Pathos

  • Evoking pity or sadness.

  • Example: The poem’s subject matter, dealing with aging and the fear of loss, stirs deep emotions in the reader.