D.A.V.

GIRLS SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL, CHENNAI-86

SUPPORT MATERIAL

MY MOTHER AT SIXTY-SIX – KAMALA DAS

Introduction

The poem is a short / free verse without a full stop. The structure of the poem is
intentional because the author wishes to convey only a single line of thought
through this poem.

Theme

The fear of losing the dear or loved ones is the major theme of the poem. The
poet wishes to point out that the fear of death does not come with aging alone,
but could also be a childhood fear. She also stresses on the mother daughter
relationship, marital responsibilities of a daughter and hence her inability to stay
and help her aging old mother.

Summary

The poet begins by saying that she was driving to Cochin (airport) after a brief
stay with her mother. Her mother accompanied her to the airport to bid farewell.

LAST FRIDAY MORNING- signifies the past (time keeps moving)

MORNING – last ‘morning’ also signifies the pleasant past- both have shared

As they are travelling, the poet turns to look at her mother- who is sleeping in
the car- her physical condition threatens the poet. The mother was asleep with
her mouth wide open and her face was pale/grey/ashen/colourless-like a corpse.

ASHEN LIKE THAT OF A CORPSE – SIMILE

The comparison reflects the poet’s fear instantly. She realizes that her mother is
old and might die soon ( because of old age). This realization is very painful and
unbearable for the poet. She is unable to see her mother sleeping with an open
mouth and looking like a corpse. Hence, she attempts to escape from the pain
that torments her, and decides to look out of the window (put that thought
away).
She could see her dying The next few lines bring out the contrasting features
both inside and outside the old mother in the car and also the young trees
sprinting in the opposite direction and the children happily coming out of the
homes, bubbling with exuberant energy, and joy. The contrasting scene relieves
the poet at that instant- meaning she could put away that painful thought (the
death of the mother).

TREES & CHILDREN- SYMBOLISE LIFE, YOUTH, ENERGY,

STRENGTH, VIGOUR, JOY ETC.

OPTICAL ILLUSION - TREES SPRINTING - VISUAL IMAGERY-

SIGNIFIES FLEETING TIME.

The poet now reaches the airport and finishes all the formalities before boarding
the flight. She is forced to move away, stand and watch her mother waiting to
bid good-bye due to the airport protocol. But the same idea is metaphorical too-
as it signifies the distance between an old mother and her married daughter who
has no other choice but to move on with her marital responsibilities that force
her to be away from her aging, ailing and dying mother. The poet describes her
old mother for the second time. This time she compares her to a late winter’s
moon – a dying moon that is dull and lifeless.

AS A LATE WINTER’S MOON- SIMILE

This again brings the pain of losing her mother and the fear associated with it.
This pain and fear have always accompanied the poet since her childhood. (It
implies that Kamala Das was fearful of her mother’s death since her childhood).
The same pain as resurfaced once again and continues to taunt her further.
These lines reveal that the fear of losing the loved ones is eternal (one might
have the fear at any point of time) and could remain with one irrespective of
age.

Unlike the situation in the car, where the poet could distract herself from the
pain, (turning her face and looking at another scene to divert her mind) - she
was unable to turn her face away from her mother after the security check.

So she decides to hide her fear (of losing her mother) and puts a smile on her
face and bids goodbye. Her parting words “see you soon Amma”- signify hope
and assurance for the old lady even though the poet does feel the same. She
hides her grief and sorrow through her smile and bids good-bye.

SEE YOU SOON AMMA- WORDS OF HOPE AND ASSURANCE

AND ALL I DID WAS SMILE, SMILE AND SMILE…- REPETITION

 WORKSHEET

I. ANSWER BRIEFLY (ERC QUESTIONS)

1. Name the poem and the poet.

2. Where was the poet driving to?

3. What did she notice about her mother?

4. What did the poet realize?

5. What do the words ‘spilling’ and ‘merry’ signify?

6. Who went for the security check?

7. Explain ‘late winter’s moon’.

8. What does the poet mean by ‘old familiar ache’?

9. Why are the trees described as ‘sprinting’?

II. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN 30-40 WORDS

1. What did the poet realize when she saw her mother dozing in the car?
2. How does the poet describe her old mother?
3. What childhood fear does the poet refer to?
4. How did the poet hide her childhood fear?
5. What did the poet do when she realised her ‘pain’ inside the car?
6. Contrast the world inside and outside the car.
7. Bring out the significance of the parting words in the poem.
8. Identify the devices used in the poem.