My Mother at Sixty Six – Kamala Das

Poem

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 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, 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…”

Easy Reading

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.

1. What is the setting of the poem as described in the given stanza?
   The setting of the poem is a car journey from the narrator’s parent’s home to Cochin on a Friday morning. This setting establishes a personal and intimate moment between the narrator and her mother.
2. Who is the narrator driving with in the car?
   The narrator is driving with her mother, who is sitting beside her in the car. This highlights the close physical and emotional proximity between the narrator and her mother during the journey.
3. What is the significance of the specific day mentioned in the stanza?
   The specific mention of “last Friday morning” adds a sense of immediacy and concreteness to the poem. It suggests that this moment is recent and fresh in the narrator’s memory, emphasizing the emotional impact of the experience.
4. How is the mother described while sitting in the car?
   The mother is described as dozing with her mouth open, and her face is ashen, resembling that of a corpse. This vivid description conveys the mother’s frailty and the narrator’s shock at seeing her in such a vulnerable state.
5. What simile is used in the stanza, and what does it imply?
   The simile used is “her face ashen like that of a corpse.” This implies that the mother’s face is pale and lifeless, evoking a sense of mortality and the narrator’s fear of losing her mother.
6. How does the narrator feel upon seeing her mother in this condition?
   The narrator feels a sense of pain and realization upon seeing her mother’s ashen face. This moment of recognition brings forth a mix of emotions, including fear, sadness, and concern for her aging mother.
7. What literary device is used in the phrase “her face ashen like that of a corpse,” and what is its effect?
   The literary device used is a simile, which compares the mother’s face to that of a corpse. The effect of this simile is to emphasize the mother’s aged and fragile appearance, highlighting the theme of aging and mortality.
8. How does the stanza reflect the theme of aging?
   The stanza reflects the theme of aging through the narrator’s observation of her mother’s physical decline. The description of the mother’s ashen face and the comparison to a corpse underscore the inevitable process of aging and its emotional impact on the narrator.
9. What emotions does the narrator experience in this stanza, and how are they conveyed?
   The narrator experiences a mix of emotions, including pain, fear, and sadness. These emotions are conveyed through the vivid description of the mother’s appearance and the narrator’s realization of her mother’s frailty.
10. How does this stanza set the tone for the rest of the poem?
    This stanza sets a contemplative and melancholic tone for the rest of the poem. The narrator’s reflection on her mother’s aging and the emotional response it elicits create a sense of poignancy and introspection that continues throughout the poem.

I realized with pain that she was as old as she looked;
but soon (I) put that thought away,
and looked out at young trees sprinting,
the merry children spilling out of their homes.

1. What realization does the narrator come to in the excerpt?
   The narrator realizes with pain that her mother is as old as she looks. This moment of recognition brings an emotional response as the narrator acknowledges her mother’s aging.
2. How does the narrator react to this painful realization?
   The narrator quickly puts the thought away, choosing to divert her attention to her surroundings instead of dwelling on the painful realization.
3. What does the phrase “young trees sprinting” symbolize?
   The phrase “young trees sprinting” symbolizes the vitality and energy of youth. It contrasts with the aging and frailty of the narrator’s mother.
4. What literary device is used in “young trees sprinting,” and what effect does it create?
   The literary device used is personification, as trees are given the human ability to sprint. This creates a dynamic and lively image, highlighting the contrast between the narrator’s inner turmoil and the vibrant external world.
5. How does the imagery of “merry children spilling out of their homes” contribute to the poem’s theme?
   The imagery of “merry children spilling out of their homes” contributes to the theme of youth and innocence. It emphasizes the contrast between the joyful, carefree nature of childhood and the somber reality of aging.
6. What does the narrator’s decision to look at the trees and children indicate about her coping mechanism?
   The narrator’s decision to look at the trees and children indicates that she uses distraction as a coping mechanism. By focusing on the lively surroundings, she attempts to avoid confronting the painful reality of her mother’s aging.
7. What is the emotional tone of the excerpt?
   The emotional tone of the excerpt is a mix of melancholy and acceptance. The narrator experiences pain at the realization of her mother’s age but chooses to distract herself with the vibrant scenes outside.
8. How does the excerpt reflect the narrator’s inner conflict?
   The excerpt reflects the narrator’s inner conflict between acknowledging her mother’s aging and her desire to avoid the associated pain. This conflict is evident in her quick shift of focus to the external world.
9. What themes are explored in this excerpt?
   The themes explored in this excerpt include aging, the passage of time, and coping with difficult emotions. The contrast between the mother’s frailty and the youthful energy of the surroundings underscores these themes.
10. How does this excerpt contribute to the overall message of the poem?
    This excerpt contributes to the overall message of the poem by highlighting the narrator’s emotional struggle with her mother’s aging. It emphasizes the inevitability of aging and the emotional impact it has on loved ones, adding depth to the poem’s exploration of life and mortality.

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.

1. Where is the narrator standing in the excerpt?
   The narrator is standing a few yards away from her mother after the airport’s security check. This physical distance symbolizes the emotional distance and separation that the narrator feels.
2. What does the narrator do after the security check?
   The narrator looks again at her mother, closely observing her appearance. This act of looking signifies the narrator’s deep concern and awareness of her mother’s frailty.
3. How does the narrator describe her mother’s appearance?
   The narrator describes her mother as “wan, pale as a late winter’s moon.” This simile emphasizes the mother’s paleness and weakness, likening her to the cold, distant moon.
4. What does the comparison to a “late winter’s moon” imply about the mother’s condition?
   The comparison implies that the mother appears pale, weak, and frail, much like the dim and waning moon in late winter. It suggests a lack of vitality and the inevitability of aging.
5. What emotional response does the narrator experience upon seeing her mother?
   The narrator feels “that old familiar ache,” which refers to the deep emotional pain and fear of losing her mother. This response is rooted in the narrator’s childhood fears and insecurities.
6. What is the “old familiar ache” mentioned in the excerpt?
   The “old familiar ache” is the narrator’s deep-seated fear and pain associated with her mother’s aging and the possibility of losing her. It is a recurring emotional response that the narrator has felt since childhood.
7. How does the excerpt reflect the theme of separation?
   The excerpt reflects the theme of separation through the physical distance between the narrator and her mother after the security check and the emotional distance created by the mother’s frailty. The narrator’s fear of losing her mother further emphasizes this theme.
8. What literary device is used in the phrase “pale as a late winter’s moon,” and what is its effect?
   The literary device used is a simile, comparing the mother’s pallor to that of a late winter’s moon. The effect of this simile is to evoke a sense of coldness, frailty, and the passage of time, highlighting the mother’s aging.
9. How does the narrator’s childhood fear contribute to the poem’s emotional impact?
   The narrator’s childhood fear adds depth to the poem’s emotional impact by revealing the long-standing and profound bond between the narrator and her mother. It underscores the narrator’s vulnerability and the enduring nature of her love and concern for her mother.
10. How does this excerpt contribute to the overall message of the poem?
    This excerpt contributes to the overall message of the poem by highlighting the narrator’s emotional struggle with her mother’s aging and the fear of inevitable separation. It emphasizes the themes of aging, mortality, and the enduring bond between mother and daughter.

All I said was, see you soon, Amma.
All I did was smile and smile and smile…”

1. What does the narrator say to her mother before parting?
   The narrator says, “see you soon, Amma,” to her mother before parting. This phrase is a hopeful and comforting farewell, expressing the narrator’s desire to see her mother again soon.
2. What is the significance of the word “Amma” in this context?
   The word “Amma” is a term of endearment for mother, commonly used in Indian languages. Its use highlights the close and affectionate bond between the narrator and her mother.
3. How does the narrator try to conceal her emotions?
   The narrator tries to conceal her emotions by smiling repeatedly. The repetition of the word “smile” indicates her effort to mask her sorrow and fear with an outward expression of happiness.
4. What literary device is used in the phrase “smile and smile and smile,” and what effect does it create?
   The literary device used is repetition. The effect of this repetition is to emphasize the narrator’s forced attempt to maintain composure and the underlying emotional struggle she faces.
5. How does this excerpt contribute to the poem’s overall theme of separation and coping?
   This excerpt contributes to the theme of separation and coping by showing the narrator’s emotional resilience in the face of parting from her mother. It highlights the internal conflict between her outward expression and inner turmoil, underscoring the difficulty of coping with the prospect of separation.