Poem 1, Kamala Das’ ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’ Summary, Theme, Line-by-Line Explanation, Poetic Devices, Analysis, Question Answers with Extract-Based Questions.
Poem 1- My Mother At Sixty-Six by Kamala Das:
Kamala Das
Kamala Das (1934-2009), also known as Kamala Suraiyya, was a prominent Indian poet and writer. She fearlessly explored themes of love, sexuality, and identity in her works, challenging societal norms.
‘My Mother At Sixty-Six’ is from the collection ‘Best of Kamala Das‘ publisged in 1991.
Table of Contents
Next on Flamingo: Poem 2-‘Keeping Quiet‘ Pablo Neruda, Poem 3-‘A Thing of Beauty‘ John Keats
Supplementary Reader: Class 12 ‘Vistas‘
Vocabulary:
| Ashen: Pale or grey, often associated with death or illness. Corpse: A dead body, especially of a human being. Doze: To sleep lightly or briefly; to nap. Merry: Cheerful and lively. Open-mouthed: Having the mouth open, often due to surprise or fatigue. Pale: Light in colour; lacking intensity or brightness. Spilling: Flowing or pouring out in large quantities. Sprinting: Running or moving quickly over a short distance. Yards: Units of measurement for length. Wan: Pale or sickly in appearance; lacking vitality or colour. |
Summary ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’:
In “My Mother at Sixty-Six,” Kamala Das takes readers on a journey where she confronts the stark reality of her mother’s ageing during a drive to the airport. Witnessing her mother’s frailty, symbolised by her ashen face, triggers a wave of emotions – from denial to fear and eventually resignation. Despite the vibrant scenes outside the car window, the poet’s attention is drawn to the inevitable passage of time and the fragility of life.
Das captures the universal experience of coming to terms with a loved one’s mortality through simple yet profound imagery. The poem serves as a poignant reminder of the transient nature of existence and the enduring bond between parent and child.
Central Idea: My Mother at Sixty-Six:
In Kamala Das’ poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six,” the poet shares her emotions as she drives her mother to the airport. The poem captures the feelings of coming to terms with a parent’s ageing, the fear of loss and the attempt to hide these emotions with a smile. The poet observes her mother as she sleeps with an open mouth and sees her as a reflection of mortality. Despite the vibrant scenes outside, the poet feels the stark contrast of her mother’s frailty. “My Mother at Sixty-Six” reflects on the inevitable passage of time and the complexities of the parent-child relationship.
Explanation of ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’ for Auditory Leaners:
Duration: 12 Minutes
Chapters/time stamps with English subtitles are available.
Analysis ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’:
‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’ is a touching and introspective poem by Kamala Das, where she reflects on her mother’s ageing and mortality during a car journey from her parent’s home to Cochin.
Tone:
The tone in the poem is a mixture of nostalgia, tenderness, and a sense of impending loss. The speaker’s emotions shift from observing her mother’s frailty and ageing to attempting to mask her anxiety and sadness. The tone evolves as follows:
- Observation: The tone at the poem’s beginning is observant and contemplative. The speaker notices her mother dozing off in the car and notes her appearance, comparing it to a corpse. The tone here is reflective and thoughtful.
- Realisation: As the poem progresses, the tone becomes more sombre as the speaker realises the impact of her mother’s ageing. The word “pain” indicates sorrow upon recognising her mother’s frailty and advancing age.
- Distraction: The tone shifts as the speaker tries to push away her thoughts and distract herself by looking at the surroundings—the young trees and merry children. This part has a slightly lighter and distracted tone.
- Reevaluation: The tone becomes more serious when the speaker passes the airport security check. She looks at her mother again and describes her as “wan, pale as a late winter’s moon.” The tone conveys a more profound sadness and an intensified emotional connection.
- Acceptance and Concealment: The tone changes to emotional restraint in the closing lines. The speaker hides her feelings behind a smile, implying that she’s attempting to shield her mother from her emotions. The repetition of “smile” highlights her effort to mask her feelings and project reassurance. (Read ahead in Themes).
Theme ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’:
- Ageing and Mortality: The poem’s central theme is the ageing process and the poet’s realisation of her mother’s mortality. The poet is acutely aware of her mother’s old age, evident by her ashen face and open-mouthed dozing during the car journey. The image of her mother resembling a corpse highlights the stark reality of ageing.
- Transient Nature of Life: The poem emphasises the transient nature of life’s moments. The rapid movement of the trees and the cheerful children spilling out of their homes contrast the mother’s ageing appearance. This contrast highlights how life moves swiftly, and youthful energy contrasts with the reality of ageing.
- Fear of Loss of a Loved One: The speaker’s reminiscences of her childhood fear associated with her mother’s ageing form a recurring undercurrent. This adds depth to the poem’s emotional landscape and showcases the universal fear of losing a loved one or grappling with mortality.
- Unspoken Emotions: The poem also touches on unspoken emotions. The speaker notices her mother’s ageing, yet she doesn’t vocalise her feelings of concern or sadness. The smiles exchanged and the phrase “see you soon, Amma” suggest a mix of tenderness, restraint, and perhaps an attempt to shield herself and her mother from acknowledging the problematic reality.
- Filial Love and Duty: The poem subtly hints towards the speaker’s love for her mother and her sense of duty as a daughter. While she grapples with her emotions, she chooses to convey warmth and comfort through her smiles and casual words, embodying the idea of caring for one’s parents in their old age.
Repetition of the word ‘Smile‘ in My Mother At Sixty-Six:
The repetition of the word “smile” at the poem’s end reinforces the poet’s attempt to hide her emotions and present a cheerful facade. It also accentuates the conflict between her inner turmoil and outward composure.
In conclusion, ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’ is a poignant portrayal of a daughter’s emotional journey as she witnesses her mother’s ageing and confronts the reality of mortality. Kamala Das skillfully combines vivid imagery, emotional conflict, and symbolism to create a powerful and relatable depiction of the universal experience of ageing parents and the love between mother and child.
(Additional but Important)
Significance of the Ellipses:
Ellipses at the poem’s end create a sense of open-mindedness and leave the poem unresolved. The poet, Kamala Das, ends the poem with a series of ellipses after repeating the word “smile” three times, which indicates that the poet’s emotions are complex and difficult to express fully in words.
The ellipses suggest that there is more to be said or felt. Still, the poet chooses to leave it unsaid, perhaps because the emotions are too overwhelming or because the relationship between the poet and her mother is deeply personal and cannot be fully conveyed through words alone.
By ending the poem with ellipses, Kamala Das invites readers to reflect on their own emotions and experiences related to ageing, mortality, and their relationship with their parents. It allows for a sense of universality in the poem, as readers can relate their own experiences to the emotions expressed by the poet. The open-ended nature of the poetry also leaves room for interpretation and encourages readers to ponder on the significance of the poet’s final smiles and the emotions behind them.
Line-by-Line Explanation ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’:
1. “Driving from my parent’s”
The poem starts with the speaker, presumably Kamala Das herself, driving from her parents’ home.
2. “home to Cochin last Friday”
The speaker travels from her parent’s home to Cochin on a Friday morning.
3. “morning, I saw my mother,”
4. “beside me,”
During the journey, the speaker observes her mother, who accompanies her. The mother is sitting beside the speaker in the car.
5. “doze, open mouthed, her face”
The mother is dozing off with her mouth open, showing signs of old age.
6. “ashen like that”
Her face appears pale and lifeless.
7. “of a corpse and realised with pain”
The speaker realises with sadness that her mother’s appearance reflects her age and frailty.
8. “that she was as old as she looked”
The speaker accepts that her mother’s appearance accurately represents her age.
9. “but soon put that thought away”
The speaker tries to suppress the thought of her mother’s ageing, possibly to avoid confronting the emotions it brings.
10. “and looked out at Young Trees sprinting,”
The speaker shifts her attention to the young trees passing by, contrasting her mother’s ageing.
11. “the merry children spilling out of their homes,”
The sight of cheerful children adds to the contrasting emotions, emphasising the cycle of life.
12. “but after the airport’s security check,”
The poem shifts to a different location, the airport, where the speaker and her mother are separated due to security protocols.
13. “standing a few yards away,”
The speaker is standing a few yards away from her mother after the security check.
14. “I looked again at her, wan, pale”
The speaker looks at her mother again and notices her paleness and weariness.
15. “as a late winter’s moon”
The comparison to a late winter’s moon suggests her mother’s fading vitality.
16. “and felt that old familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,”
The speaker experiences a familiar pain and fear reminiscent of her childhood when she might have feared her mother’s mortality.
17. “but all I said was, see you soon, Amma,”
Despite her emotions, the speaker tries to remain composed and casually bids farewell to her mother using the endearing term “Amma” (Mother).
18. “all I did was smile and smile and smile……”
The poem ends with repetition, emphasising the speaker’s efforts to mask her emotions with a smile, even though she feels a mix of sadness and love for her ageing mother.
Question Answers “My Mother at Sixty-Six”:
Textbook Question Answers:
Q1: What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?
A1: The pain and ache the poet feels are twofold. First, she acknowledges her mother’s ageing, seeing her as frail and mortal, which evokes a sense of sorrow and fear of loss. Second, nostalgia and childhood memories ache her, reminding her of the passage of time and the shifting dynamics of their relationship.
Q2: Why are the young trees described as ‘sprinting’?
A2: The young trees are described as ‘sprinting’ to convey a sense of vitality and energy. This description juxtaposes the image of the poet’s ageing mother, highlighting the stark contrast between the vigour of youth and the frailty of old age.
Q3: Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’?
A3: The image of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’ contrasts the poet’s mother’s condition. It symbolises youth’s vibrancy and exuberance, emphasising life’s cyclical nature and the inevitability of change.
Q4: Why has the mother been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’?
A4: Comparing the mother to the ‘late winter’s moon’ evokes a sense of pale, distant beauty tinged with melancholy. Like the moon in late winter, her mother appears wan and pale, reflecting the passing of time and the fleeting nature of life.
Q5: What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
A5: The parting words of the poet, “see you soon, Amma,” and her persistent smile despite her inner turmoil signify her attempt to mask her emotions and maintain a facade of normalcy. It reflects the universal experience of hiding one’s pain and sorrow behind a smile, especially when faced with the inevitability of separation and the passage of time.
Extract Based Questions ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six‘
Extract 1:
“Driving from my parent’s
home to Cochin last Friday
morning, I saw my mother,
beside me,
doze, open mouthed, her face
ashen like that
of a corpse and realised with pain
that she was as old as she
looked but soon
put that thought away,”
Q1: What does the speaker notice about her mother while driving to Cochin?
A1: The speaker notices her mother dozing with her mouth open, and her face looks pale, like a corpse’s. The speaker realises that her mother’s appearance reflects her actual age.
Q2: How does the speaker react to the realisation of her mother’s age during the drive?
A2: The speaker initially feels pain realising her mother’s actual age but decides to dismiss that thought and focuses on the passing scenery.
Extract 2:
“looked out at Young
Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
out of their homes, 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,”
Q1: What does the speaker observe outside the car during the drive?
A2: The speaker sees young trees moving quickly and cheerful children playing outside their homes.
Q2: How does the speaker’s perception of her mother change after the security check at the airport?
A2: After the security check, the speaker looks at her mother again and notices her looking pale and weak, reminiscent of a pale winter’s moon. This sight triggers a sense of familiarity and sadness in the speaker, reminding her of a fear she experienced during childhood.
Extract 3:
“all I said was, see you soon, Amma,
all I did was smile and smile and
Smile……”
Q1: How does the speaker bid farewell to her mother before parting ways?
A2: The speaker simply says, “See you soon, Amma,” and responds with smiles, repeating the act of smiling.
Q2: What is the significance of the speaker’s repeated smiles in this context?
A2: The repeated smiles could suggest that the speaker is masking her inner sadness or concern with a cheerful facade, attempting to reassure her mother.
