12th standard Poem-1
My Mother at Sixty-six
It's a poem written by Indian writer Kamala Das. Her poems are mostly about subtleties involved in human relationships.
She explores mostly the unnoticed simple events that occur in a certain relationship through fabulous imagery and strong descriptions.
The poem talks about a daughter bidding goodbye to her mother. The mother has grown old, and the daughter finds it painful to leave her ageing mother behind. She knows that she might not see her mother again. This poem is about the feelings and emotions involved in this kind of situation.
Summary
Ageing is a natural process, and no one has control over it. As human beings, we are involved in warm relationships with people much older than us – like that between our parents and us. As much as we love our parents and wish for them to live forever with us, nature does not seem to heed our wishes. Our parents do grow old and need help and care. It might be painful to see them lose their youth with time. It is unfortunate, but it is just like sand slipping away from between our fingers. We cannot hold on to it forever.
This is a touching poem written by Indian poet Kamla Das who wrote under the pen name of ‘Madhavikutty’. In this poem, she describes her feeling of love and attachment towards her ageing mother.
Once the poet went to visit her mother. She was on her way back to the the airport to return to Cochin. She looked at her mother who was seated beside her in the car. Her mother had dozed off to sleep and her ageing face – was smoky in colour like ash. Her mouth was open and she resembled a dead body. The poet realized that her mother was old. She felt pain and sympathy for her. Her mother needed love, affection and care.
In order to come out of the gloom, the poet shifted her glance and looked out of the car’s window. There she saw young trees pass by. Little children were running out of their houses into the playgrounds. These things were contrary to the ageing face of her mother. They symbolised energy, life and happiness.
Question & answers
Q1. What is the irony in the poem My Mother at Sixty-six?
The irony in the poem My Mother at Sixty-six is that the poet knows that her mother has grown old, though she finds it hard to accept it.
Q2. What are the poetic devices used in the poem My Mother at Sixty-six?
Similes have been used that compare the mother’s face to that of a corpse and a ‘late winter’s moon’. Imagery is used to show life and activity in ‘Young Trees sprinting’ and ‘merry children spilling’. Also, ‘Young Trees’ is personified in the poem. Repetition and alliteration can be seen in the use of the word ‘smile’ in the last line of the poem.
Q3. Why is the mother’s face compared to a ‘late winter’s moon’?
The mother’s face has been compared to a ‘late winter’s moon’ to illustrate her old age. Just like a later winter’s moon that is dim because of the fog, the poet’s mother’s face has lost the glow of a young and lively person. It is used to show the effect of age on her – the loss of energy, youth and beauty.
Q4. What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?
When the poet looks at her mother’s face closely, she discovers that she has aged and her end is near. The feeling of her mother being old, needing care and help pains the poet as there is no one to look after her. She feels that her mother can die any moment and that then she will lose her forever. Her childhood fear of losing her mother which was then timely but now, will be forever, resurfaces. The poet feels the pain of her mother’s old age and her helplessness towards her. She has the fear of separating from her mother forever, upon her death.
Q5. Why are the young trees described as ‘sprinting’?
The young trees have been personified. When looked at from the poet’s moving car, they seem to be running past. The poet found it to be strikingly opposite to her mother who looked as still as a dead body.
Q6. Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’?
The poet draws a comparison between what is travelling with her and what she can see outside. It’s a comparison between life and death. Her mother is sleeping, with mouth open, like a dead body, while outside she can see children who are full of life, energy and enthusiasm.
Q7. Why has the mother been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’?
Just as the late winter’s moon is dull and lacks luster, so is her mother at the end stage of her life. Also, as the late winter moon gets overshadowed by the fog and mist in the sky similarly her mother can get overshadowed by death at any time. Both of them are nearing an end- one of season and the other of life.
Q8. What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
The parting words of the poet show her positive attitude. She overcomes her pain and fear, assures herself and her mother that they would meet again. She is being very brave which is indicated by the use of repetition in the poem: “smile and smile and smile……”
