The poet, Kamala Das also wrote by her pen-name of ‘Madhavikutty’. She was
born in Kerala and is one of India’s first poets. Her subject – matter is basically
related to her personality- beautiful, sensitive, bold and tormented. External
factors do not reflect in her writings, her writings bring out her true inner feelings.
Her favorite poem is ‘composition’.
In the poem ‘My mother at sixty six’, she talks about her mother. This poem is
based on mother-daughter relation and the poet shares her feelings for her
mother.
Introduction
The poem drives home the fact that aging is a natural process and we have no sway (i.e control) over it.
Like aging, death is also inevitable (i.e a must) in the lives of people.
We should come to terms with this hard core fact of life. If we fail to negotiate with this universal process of aging and mortality, we shall end up being in despair.
The writer in this poem is so obsessed with her mother that she has become totally blind to the fact of inevitability of aging and death.
Due to her possessiveness for her mother since her childhood, she developed subdued fear and consequent pain in her mind that one day she would have to part with her mother.
Like the woman in the poem ‘Mirror’, the poet is unable to digest the fact of aging and death. Therefore, she is in conflict with herself.
From a personal pain and agony the poem transcends into universal problem of pain at separation from our beloved ones.
This inevitable pain at separation is fairly universal in nature. Hence justified at all layers of human relationship.
Text and Explanation
Driving from my parent’s home
To Cochin last Friday morning,
I saw my mother beside me.
Beside: alongside
The poetess explains that once when she visited her parent’s house in Cochin. It was a Friday
when she was driving back to the airport, her mother was sitting beside her at the back of the
car. The poet looked at her mother.
Literary Devices:
Assonance: Here we see the use of vowel sound that is ‘o’.(To Cochin last Friday morning)
doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that
of a corpse and realised with pain
Doze: nap
Ashen: pale
Corpse: dead body
She saw that her mother was sleeping and her mouth was open. She further explains that the
colour of her mother’s face was like that of ash. (This means that there was some smoky
appearance on her face). She looked like a dead body.
Literary Devices:
Assonance: Use of vowel sound ‘o’,’a’, ‘e’ (doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that
of a corpse)
Simile: The colour of the mother’s face has been compared to that of a corpse – ashen. use of
‘like’ (her face ashen like that of a corpse)
that she was as old as she looked but soon
put that thought away, and looked out at Young
Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes,
Spilling: let out
Sprinting: Moving fast
The poetess realized that her mother had grown old. She felt pain for her. But soon she tried to
get rid of this sad thought by diverting her thoughts towards the trees outside. The young trees
although stationary seemed to be running very fast as though they were sprinting. She also saw
children running out of their houses, into the playground. All these things were full of life and
energy, contrary to her mother who sat next to her.
Literary Devices:
Consonance: use of the sound ‘s’ and ‘t’
imagery: when the poet say trees sprinting, merry children spilling
Repetition: Repeated use of ‘looked’
but after the airport’s
security check, standing a few yards
away, I looked again at her, wan, pale
Wan: dim, weak
Pale: dull, colourless
The poet continues that when she reached the airport, she finished with the security check and
stood a few yards away from her mother. She noticed her mother’s ageing face which looked so
dull, weak and 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......
The poet compares her mother to a late winter’s moon as the moon in winters is not shiny and even her mother’s face had also lost her youth and shine. As her mother was getting older and weak.The poet feels the fear of separation just as she used to feel during her childhood. As a child, she could not bear the pain of separating from her mother. But now as her mother has grown old and is about to die, the poet feels that may be this is the last time that she is seeing her mother. She tries to hide her fear. She then says that she would soon see her mother again. She says so because she doesn’t want to lose her mother.
Literary Devices:
Repetition: use of ‘smile’
Rhyme scheme – The poem does not follow any rhyme or rhythm. It has been written in free
verse.
Simile: Mother’s face is compared to the late winter’s moon – both are dull and lifeless. use of
‘as’ (as a late winter’s moon).
Summary
Ageing is an inescapable phase of every human’s life. A person enters their childhood, experiences adolescence when they are energetic and have so many dreams. Finally, every person approaches their old age and then they die. Relationships between people become much stronger in every phase of life. No one can’t bear the separation from their loved ones just because of ageing.
Firstly, when the author going to the Cochin airport with her mother she looks at her carefully and presents before us her image. As she looks at her mother’s soft and whitish face, she gets stuck
with the fear of losing her mother. Her mother with a sleepy face and open mouth is comparable to a corpse. Here, the author shows love and affection in a relationship between a mother and a
daughter.
The poet is hurt and sad and shifts her attention outside the car for driving out the undesirable feelings. She changes her bad mood. The scene from the window of the car is of rising life and energy. The fast sprinting green and huge trees alongside the cheerfully playing kids represent life, youth, and vitality. The poet here is remembering about her own childhood.
In her childhood, her mother was young and beautiful. Whereas now her mother is surrounded by the fear of losing her life and that made her insecure and sad. She reaches the airport to take her flight. It shows departure and parting which makes her sad. As
she said goodbye to her mother, the image of the old mother in the dusk of years strikes her. Here again, a simile is comparable with her mother with a late-night moon of the winters. The light of the moon is an obstacle by the fog and haze as she appears older now.
The poet is now feeling the pain of getting separated because of leaving her mother. Her childhood fear of losing her loving mother now became so terrifying. Now her mother could die of old age anytime unexpectedly. She is so sad that she starts crying slowly without control but keeping a brave heart she hides her tears and starts smiling. Thus, she offers her farewell to her old mother and keeps her hope of seeing her mother alive again. She says “see you soon, Amma”. She hides her tears and sorrow as she does not want to make a painful and emotional environment.
Moreover, she doesn’t want her mother to cry and shows her that she is enjoying her life. She expects her mother to be happy and enjoy her life just like her.
To conclude, my mother at sixty six poem revolves around the beautiful relationship between the poet and her mother. The summary shows the theme of the advancing age of the mother of the author and the fear of separation. This apparently short poem touches upon the theme of a beautiful bond between the mother and the daughter. It shows how beautiful a relationship a mother and a daughter can have.
Poetic Devices
Following poetic devices have been used in the poem My Mother at Sixty-Six.
1. Simile: it is the comparison of two things by using as or like. e.g. “her face ashen like
that of a corpse”, “as a late winter’s moon”.
2. Metaphor: it is the direct comparison of two things without the use of as or like.
e.g. “the merry children spilling”.
3. Personification: When we give human characteristics to animals or plants or nonliving things. e.g. “trees sprinting”.
4. Anaphora: It is the repetition of a word or phrase to create a poetic effect in a poem.
e.g. the poet repeats these words, “smile and smile and smile”.
5. Alliteration: It is the repetition of the consonant sounds in a line of a poem. e.g.
“my mother”, “that thought”, “I said was, see you soon”.
My mother at sixty-six Question and answer
(Q1.) Why does the poet smile and what does she say while bidding goodbye to her mother?
(1 Mark)
(Ans) The poet smiles in order to put up a brave front so that her mother may not observe her pained and frightened look. She smiles in order to reassure her mother and says that she would soon see her again.
(Q2.) What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?
(2 Marks)
(Ans) The emotional pain and ache that the poet feels is due to the realization that her mother has gone old and has become frail and pale like a corpse. She is dependent on her children. The ache also refers to the old familiar ache of the childhood that revisits the poet due to the mother’s old age and her approaching end.
(Q3.) Why are the young trees described as sprinting?
(2 Marks)
(Ans) The young trees are personified in the poem. They seem to be running in the opposite direction when seen through the window of the moving car. The movement is juxtaposed with the expression on the mother’s face i.e. ashen like a corpse. The movement of the children and the trees is in stark contrast with the stillness associated with the mother.
(Q4.) Why has the poet bought in the image of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’?
(2 Marks)
(Ans) The poet highlights the helplessness and frailty of old age with the help of contrasts. The mother dozes off mouth open, whereas the children spilling out of their homes signify movement and energy, enthusiasm and vivacity, which the old people are bereft off.
(Q5.) Why has the mother been compared to ‘late winter’s moon’?
(2 Marks)
(Ans) The mother has been compared to the late winter’s moon which is dull and shrouded. It symbolizes the ebbing of life. The moon brings to the poets mind night or the approaching end of life. The mother like the late winter’s moon is dull, dim and dismal.
(Q6.) What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
(2 Marks)
(Ans) The parting words ‘see you soon Amma’ are used by the poet to reassure the mother and to infuse optimism in the poet herself. The poet accepts the reality yet keeps up the façade of smiling in order to put up a brave front. It requires a lot of effort and hence the poet has used the poetic device of repetition.
(Q7.) What does the poet mean by ‘all I did was smile and smile and smile…’?
(2 Marks)
(Ans) The poet realizes the pain and ache she would get at separating from her mother. It was her childhood fear that she experienced again. She was trying to hide her true emotions by smiling and smiling. The smile here is the forced smile and not the natural one. The poet smiled to keep her sorrows in disguise.
(Q8.) What childhood fears do you think the poet is referring to in the poem ‘My Mother at Sixty Six’?
(2 Marks)
(Ans) The poet refers to the fears of a child of losing a parent or getting lost somewhere and thus getting separated from them. The poet felt this kind of fear while looking at her mother’s aged and pale face. She was afraid that she might never see her again. However the fear is also symbolic of the strong filial bond that the poet has not yet overgrown.
(Q9.) What does the poet mean by ‘she looked?’
(2 Marks)
(Ans) The poet felt that perhaps her mother too would be feeling insecure about her future. She saw these expressions on her mother’s face as well.
(Q10.) What does the poet’s mother look like? What kind of images has the poet used to signify her ageing decay?
(2 Marks)
(Ans) The poet’s mother at sixty-six, is sitting beside the poet and is dozing off with her mouth open. This is a sign of old age. Her face was pale like a corpse’s. Imagery of death has been created by the poet in this comparison.
(Q11.) What were the activities that the poet saw outside the car window?
(2 Marks)
(Ans) The poet saw young trees speeding past and it seemed as if they were sprinting or running fast. Happy, enthusiastic and energetic children could be seen running out of their homes. They represent an image of life, youth and energy in comparison to the poet’s mother who is described as a corpse, devoid of any energy and is an antithesis of children who are in the full swing of life.
(Q12.) Why does the poet look outside? What does she perceive?
(2 Marks)
(Ans) The very thought of separation from her mother upsets and depresses the poet. She experiences the fear that she may never meet her mother again. In order to drive away such negative thoughts, she looks out of the window and her mind gets diverted when she sees trees moving rapidly and children playing merrily.
(Q13.) What is the poet’s familiar ache and why does it return?
(2 Marks)
(Ans) The poet is pained to see her mother old and suffering. The sight of her mother’s pale and weak face looks like that of a corpse, which arouses her childhood’s ‘familiar ache’ in her heart. The old familiar ache refers to the childhood premonition of losing or being separated from the parents . The fear returns due to the old age of the mother signifying her approaching end.
(Q14.) What does Kamala Das do after the security check-up? What does she notice?
(2 Marks)
(Ans) Immediately after the security check-up at the airport, and standing a few yards away from her mother, the poet observes her mother once again and compares her to the pale, colourless winter’s moon, marking the last phase of her life i.e. her old age. She is pained to see her and the fear of separation returns in her, once again.
(Q15.) What poetic devices has the poet used in ‘My Mother at Sixty-six’?
(2 Marks)
(Ans) The poem is rich in imagery. Devices of comparisons and contrasts are also used by the poet to draw out the differences in young age and old age. She describes her mother’s age as ‘ashen like a corpse’, using simile and compares her to late winter’s moon, using a simile again. The merry children playing happily are contrasted with the old, weak, frail, feeble and pale mother of the poet.
(Q16.)What does the poet do to shrug off the painful thought of her mother’s approaching end?
The poet looks outside to get rid of her painful thought . The realization that her mother has grown old and has become frail and pale like a corpse caused unbearable pain and ache in the poet’s heart.
(Q17.) Why does the poet draw the image of sprinting trees and merry children?
The two images are created by the poet to refer a symbolical meaning .Sprinting trees and merry children suggest fresh life and warm energy. The poet draws this image to bring a contrast with the pale, dull and withered face of the mother. Young trees represent beginning of life while inside the car the old lady is nearing the end .Happy children are coming out with lots of excitement ,curiosity or expectations but the old lady seems lethargical,tired and lacked interest to talk to her daughter
(Q18.)Why have the trees been described as sprinting?
The poet was driving a car along with her mother. Her movement created the visionary illusion of the trees outside as if they were sprinting past.The passing of trees also signifies passing of time. The mother has grown old with the pasing of time and presently many things have changed between Kamala Das and her mother.
(Q19.)Why has the mother been compared to the late winter’s moon?
The late winter moon lacks luster. The mothers face was pale and withered. Moreover, the late winter moon suggests the end of season .The old mother is also approaching the end of her life.Thus, the poet compares her with the late winter’s moon.
(Q20.)What is the ‘familiar ache’?
The old familiar ache refers to the childhood premonition of losing or being separated from the parents . The fear returns due to the old age of the mother signifying her approaching end. The emotional pain and ache that the poet feels is due to the realization that her mother has gone old and has become frail and pale like a corpse.
(Q21.)What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
The parting words of the poet reflect the poet’s pain. The poet smiled to hide her guilt, anxiety,pain and fear of the unknown. She wanted to bid a cheerful farewell to her mother .She wanted to give hope, happiness and reassurance to her mother and make her believe that soon they both will meet again.
Reference to the context
‘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 realized with pain that she thought away and looked but soon put that thought away’
Q1 What do the words ‘ashen, open-mouthed and corpse’ signify?
Ans. The poet uses a simile to describe her mother’s condition. Her face was pale and lifeless like that of a dead body. This signifies loss of vitality and death.
Q2 What do these words signify about the poet’s state of mind?
Ans. The poet is very disturbed looking at her old mother. The deep fear of her mother’s imminent death upsets and grieves her.
Q3 Explain ‘put that thought away’?
Ans. The poet was grieved to see her mother’s condition. The fear of her impending death troubled her. She swept away this thought by looking out of the car window.
Q4 Why does the poet look out?
Ans. The poet looked out from the window of the car to dispel the painful and agonizing thoughts that she experienced on seeing her old and helpless mother.
2 “…Standing a few yards away, I looked again at her wan, pale as a late
winter’s moon”.
Q1. Where was the poet standing?
Ans. The poet was at the airport waiting to board the plane after the security check.
Q2 Pick out a poetic device from the above lines. Explain.
Ans. The poet uses a simile -‘pale as a late winter’s moon’ to reinforce her mother’s frail physical health. Like a late winter moon is pale, devoid of sheen her mother is lifeless indicative of her impending death.
Q3 Why does the poet look at her mother again?
Ans. The poet looks at her mother again to reassure herself of her mother’s well-being for the last time before she left.
3. “..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.”
Q1 Explain that ‘old familiar ache’.
Ans. The ‘old familiar ache’ refers to a constant fear and agony that haunts the poet. It is an apprehension of separation from her mother that terrifies the poet.
Q2 What were the poet’s childhood fears?
Ans. The fear of losing her mother. The terror of death engulfing her were the childhood fears that the poet experienced.
My Mother at Sixty Six MCQ question and answers
1.What did the narrator notice about his mother during the drive?
- a) She was singing loudly
- b) She was sleeping with her mouth open
- c) She was reading a book
- d) She was talking on the phone
Correct answer: b) She was sleeping with her mouth open. The text mentions, “I saw my mother, beside me, doze, open mouthed…”
2.How did the narrator feel when he realized his mother’s age?
- a) Happy
- b) Excited
- c) Indifferent
- d) Pain
Correct answer: d) Pain. The text states, “realised with pain that she was as old as she looked…”
3.What did the narrator see outside the car after the airport’s security check?
- a) Old buildings
- b) Young Trees sprinting
- c) Deserted streets
- d) Heavy traffic
Correct answer: b) Young Trees sprinting. The text says, “looked out at Young Trees sprinting…”
4.How did the narrator describe his mother’s face after the security check?
- a) Radiant
- b) Ashen like a corpse
- c) Rosy
- d) Glowing
Correct answer: b) Ashen like a corpse. The text mentions, “looked again at her, wan, pale as a late winter’s moon…”
5.What emotion did the narrator feel when he said goodbye to his mother?
- a) Fear
- b) Excitement
- c) Relief
- d) Anger
Correct answer: a) Fear. The text states, “felt that old familiar ache, my childhood’s fear…”
6.How did the narrator respond to his mother when parting at the airport?
- a) See you later
- b) Goodbye forever
- c) See you soon, Amma
- d) No response
Correct answer: c) See you soon, Amma. The text mentions, “all I said was, see you soon, Amma…”
7.What did the narrator do after the security check at the airport?
- a) Cried
- b) Laughed
- c) Looked at his phone
- d) Looked at his mother
Correct answer: d) Looked at his mother. The text says, “after the airport’s security check, standing a few yards away, I looked again at her…”
8.How did the narrator describe his mother’s appearance after the security check?
- a) Energetic
- b) Wan and pale
- c) Bright and cheerful
- d) Angry
Correct answer: b) Wan and pale. The text mentions, “looked again at her, wan, pale as a late winter’s moon…”
9.What did the narrator focus on while driving to Cochin?
- a) Traffic signals
- b) Old buildings
- c) Young Trees sprinting
- d) Road signs
Correct answer: c) Young Trees sprinting. The text says, “looked out at Young Trees sprinting…”
10.How did the narrator feel about his mother’s aging?
- a) Delighted
- b) Anxious
- c) Proud
- d) Indifferent
Correct answer: b) Anxious. The text states, “realised with pain that she was as old as she looked…”
11.What did the narrator see outside the car before the airport’s security check?
- a) Mountains
- b) Rivers
- c) Merry children spilling out of their homes
- d) Desolate landscape
Correct answer: c) Merry children spilling out of their homes. The text mentions, “looked out at Young Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes…”
12.How did the narrator feel when he saw his mother after the security check?
- a) Happy
- b) Sad
- c) Nostalgic
- d) An ache of fear
Correct answer: d) An ache of fear. The text says, “felt that old familiar ache, my childhood’s fear…”
13.What color did the narrator use to describe his mother’s face during the drive?
- a) Rosy
- b) Ashen
- c) Tan
- d) Radiant
Correct answer: b) Ashen. The text mentions, “her face ashen like that of a corpse…”
14.What did the narrator say when parting with his mother?
- a) Goodbye
- b) See you soon, Amma
- c) Take care
- d) No response
Correct answer: b) See you soon, Amma. The text states, “all I said was, see you soon, Amma…”
15.What was the narrator’s response to his mother’s appearance after the security check?
- a) Ignored
- b) Looked away
- c) Smiled
- d) Laughed
Correct answer: c) Smiled. The text says, “all I did was smile and smile and smile…”
16.What did the narrator see outside the car before the airport’s security check?
- a) Empty streets
- b) Happy families
- c) Young Trees sprinting
- d) Busy market
Correct answer: c) Young Trees sprinting. The text mentions, “looked out at Young Trees sprinting…”
17.What did the narrator feel when he realized his mother’s age?
- a) Joy
- b) Pain
- c) Excitement
- d) Indifference
Correct answer: b) Pain. The text states, “realised with pain that she was as old as she looked…”
18.How did the narrator respond to his mother’s aging?
- a) Ignored
- b) Embraced
- c) Felt indifferent
- d) Felt pain
Correct answer: d) Felt pain. The text mentions, “realised with pain that she was as old as she looked…”
19.What did the narrator focus on after the airport’s security check?
- a) His phone
- b) His mother
- c) Young Trees sprinting
- d) Airplanes
Correct answer: b) His mother. The text says, “after the airport’s security check, standing a few yards away, I looked again at her…”
20.How did the narrator feel when he said goodbye to his mother?
- a) Joyful
- b) Nostalgic
- c) Fearful
- d) Indifferent
Correct answer: c) Fearful. The text states, “felt that old familiar ache, my childhood’s fear…”
Founder of Englishfry.com, a captivating and knowledge-driven blog & Founder of Android app/website Studyfunnel.com, an online Mock Test Series Portal. With a wealth of experience spanning over 16+ years, he has excelled as an Ex-professor, Teacher, Amazon published author, Website Developer, Graphic Designer,Blogger,Poet, and Creative academic content writer publisher of 4 academic books. His tryst in Literature helped him realize his love for writing and telling stories. A tech-savvy language nerd by day and, a passionate writer by night, he now translates his experiences into tales of wisdom served with a side of humor.His widely recognized profound insights ,captivating writing style of weaving words make him contribute to prestigious publications and a sought-after authority in the field that transport readers to extraordinary worlds.
