MY MOTHER AT SIXTY -SIX

1. What is the kind of pain and the ache that the poet feels?

'The poet feels a kind of helpless pain aroused by the thought, unavoidable
separation from her mother who is slowly being ravaged by decay and age. Her
ache results out of a sense, guilt for not looking after her mother properly.

2. Why are the young trees described as 'sprinting'?

Young trees seem to be sprinting i.e. rushing past the past because she is travelling
very fast in a car. The sprinting movement of the trees in their spring bloom stands in
contrast to the poets "ashen like" old mother weakened and consumed by time.

3. Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children 'spilling out of
their homes'
The poet has brought in this image to present a sharp contrast to the poet's limp and
dozing old mother. The spontaneous overflow of life symbolised by the children
coming out of the houses is in contrast with the inactive life of the aged mother.

4. Why has the mother been compared to the "late winter's moon"?

The mother has been compared to the "late winter's moon" to emphasise the
degenerative stage of her life. Winter is a symbol of death and pale moon is
associated with decay. The mothers pale and wrinkly face, together with her grey
hair make her look like a "late winter's moon".

5. What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?

The poet's parting words, 'See you soon, Amma" are expressive of the dilemma in
her mind. Her prolonged smile is superficial and expresses her helplessness while
offering hope and reassurance to her mother. This gesture not only hides her anxiety
about her mother's frail health but also intends to comfort the old woman.

EXTRA QUESTIONS

1. What does the poet notice about her mother while travelling in the car?

The poet notices that her mother has dozed off. There is an expression of pain on
her wrinkled face caused by worries and anxieties of life. The sight of greyish pale
face of the old woman triggers off the poet's fear about her mother's impending
death.

2. What thoughts does Kamala Das put away while travelling with her
mother in the car? Why do you think she puts them away?

1
Kamala Das puts away the negative thoughts about losing her mother to death and a
nagging ache for not being able to care. well enough for her. She tries to drive away
these dreadful thoughts because they are depressing.

3. What is the significance of the images, 'sprinting trees' and 'merry

children spilling out of their homes' in the poem "My Mother at Sixty-
six"?

Both sprinting trees and merry children are happy and young. They present a
contrast to the mother's pain and old age and the poet's worry and fear. They
represent youth, vigour and spring whereas the mother is old, decaying, frail, inactive
and passive.

4. What childhood fear do you think Kamala speaks of?

Or
What were Kamala Das's fears as a child? Why do they come back when she is
going to the airport?

Perhaps, since her childhood Kamala has had a fear that she will either lose her
mother or will be separated from her. Now that the mother is sixty-six years old
and has a deteriorating health, the poet's fear returns with greater intensity.

5. How does Kamala Das bid farewell to her mother?

Kamala Das bids farewell to her mother with the comforting words "See you soon,
Amma". She tries to hide her anxiety and worry about her old mother's delicate
health behind her prolonged and reassuring smile.
What sort of a relationship did the mother and the daughter enjoy,

6. What sort of relationship did the mother and daughter enjoy , as

reflected in the poem "My Mother at Sixty-six"?

The mother and the daughter enjoyed an intimate relationship, where both
understood the limitations, commitments, and compulsions of each other's life.
Despite their frustrations caused by the sense of helplessness to redress the
situation, they both tend to keep a brave face.