"My Mother at Sixty-Six" is a touching and [introspective ] poem by Kamala Das, in which the poet explores themes of aging, the passage of time, and the deep bond between a child and their parent. The poem is a reflection on the inevitability of aging and the complex emotions it evokes as the speaker confronts her mother's vulnerability.
My Mother at Sixty-Six - Flamingo - Class 12 - CBSE English
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Quiz - My Mother at Sixty-Six | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English
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About the Author - My Mother at Sixty-Six | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English
"My Mother at Sixty-Six" is a poignant poem written by Kamala Das, one of India's foremost poets. Born in Malabar, Kerala in 1934, Kamala Das was a versatile writer known for her originality and the indigenous flavor of her works. She published numerous novels and short stories in English and Malayalam under the pen name 'Madhavikutty,' as well as several books of poetry.
Kamala Das was a sensitive writer who captured the complex subtleties of human relationships in her lyrical idiom . In "My Mother at Sixty-Six," she explores the theme of aging and the emotions it evokes in both the elderly and their children. The poem encourages readers to consider the expectations and needs of their aging parents.
In the poem, the speaker describes a journey from her parent's home to Cochin, during which she observes her mother dozing beside her. The mother's aging appearance strikes the speaker with pain, as she recognizes her mother's vulnerability and the inevitability of time. As they part ways at the airport, the speaker experiences a familiar ache from her childhood, yet she can only express her love and reassurance by smiling and promising to see her mother soon.
The poem captures the emotions of love, fear, and concern that often accompany the realization of a parent's aging. It encourages readers to reflect on their relationships with their own parents and to cherish the time they have together.
Back Questions - My Mother at Sixty-Six | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English
What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?
The poet feels the agony of transitoriness in life which is an integral part of our existence. She recalls her childhood fear of ageing and death when she gazes at her mother. The mother reminds her of the inevitability of life from which no one can escape. Being mortal death and separation are an inherent part of our life.
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Why are the young tree described as ‘sprinting’?
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Why had the poet brought in the image of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’?
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Why has the mother been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’?
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What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
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Summary - My Mother at Sixty-Six | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English
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Extra Questions - My Mother at Sixty-Six | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English
Driving from my parent’s
home to Cochin last Friday
morning, I saw my mother,
beside me
doze, open mouthed, her face
Ashes like that
of a corpse and realized with
pain
that she thought away, and
looked but soon
put that thought away, and
looked out at young
trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
out of their homes,
home to Cochin last Friday
morning, I saw my mother,
beside me
doze, open mouthed, her face
Ashes like that
of a corpse and realized with
pain
that she thought away, and
looked but soon
put that thought away, and
looked out at young
trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
out of their homes,
a. Where was the poetess driving to?
b. What did she notice while her mother sat beside her?
c. Why was her mother’s face like that of a corpse?
d. What did the poet do then?
e. How were the young trees sprinting?
f. What did she see the children doing?
g. Find words from the passage which mean:
i. Felt ii. Sleep lightly iii. Dead body iv. Happy v. running fast
- The poetess was driving from her parent’s home to the airport for Cochin.
- She noticed that her mother was in a fitful sleep and had her mouth open while she was sleeping.
- The mother’s face looked like a corpse as she looked pale and lifeless. She had grown old and no more carried the charisma of youth on her face.
- The poetess could not bear the thought of losing her mother. She distracted her thoughts from her mother and tried to look at the sprightly things that could be seen around her.
- The young trees seemed to be speeding fast in the opposite direction when the car was moving fast.
- She saw the children filled with exuberance were moving out of their home to either go to school or play.
- Realised, doze, corpse, merry, sprinting
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but after the airport’s
security check, standing a few yards
away, I looked again at her, wan,
pale
as a late winter’s moon and felt that
old
familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,
but all I said was, see you soon,
Amma,
All I did was smile and smile and
smile………….
- What did the poet do after the security check?
- Why did the poet compare her mother’s face to a late winter’s moon?
- What is her childhood’s fear?
- Find word from the passage which mean:---colourless.
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What poetic devices have been used by Kamala Das in 'My Mother at sixty-six?
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Themes - My Mother at Sixty-Six | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English
Aging and the Passage of Time:
The central theme of the poem is the aging process and the passage of time. The speaker confronts her mother's vulnerability and the inevitability of growing old. Kamala Das uses vivid imagery to depict the mother's ashen and wan appearance, highlighting the physical and emotional changes that come with age. This theme is a reminder for the readers to appreciate the time they have with their loved ones and to understand the complexities of aging.
Parent-Child Relationship:
The poem explores the deep bond between.................
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Symbols - My Mother at Sixty-Six | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English
In "My Mother at Sixty-Six," Kamala Das uses several symbols to convey the poem's themes and emotions. Some of the prominent symbols include:
The mother's ashen face: The description of the mother's face.......................................
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Poetic Devices - My Mother at Sixty-Six | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English
In "My Mother at Sixty-Six," Kamala Das employs various poetic devices to enhance the poem's emotional impact and express the themes more effectively. Some of the key poetic devices used in the poem include:
Imagery: The poem is rich with vivid descriptions that create powerful mental images. Examples include the ashen face of the mother, ...........................................
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Vocabulary - My Mother at Sixty-Six | Flamingo | Class 12 Literature | CBSE English
Doze : To sleep lightly or intermittently.
After a long day at work, I often Doze off on the couch while watching TV.
Ashen : Extremely pale, as if drained of color, typically due to shock, illness, or fear.
Her face turned Ashen when she heard the unexpected news.
Realize : To become aware of something or to understand a fact or truth.
I didn't Realize how............................
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