Hello buddy! I hope you're doing well 😁. In today's article, we will explore the summary of the poem 'My Mother at Sixty Six'. Additionally, we will discuss the main theme of the poem, analyze its poetic devices, provide NCERT solutions, and even have some multiple-choice questions (MCQs) to test your understanding. Make sure to read the entire post to discover all of these interesting aspects.
My Mother at Sixty Six 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…… - Kamala Das
My Mother at Sixty Six Summary Explanation
This poem is about a person, she is driving with her mother from her parent's home to Cochin on a Friday morning. During the drive, she sees her mother dozing with her mouth open and looking very old, which makes her feel sad. However, she tries to push those thoughts away and distract herself by looking at the young trees and children playing outside.
Later, after going through airport security and seeing her mother standing a few yards away, she looks at her mother again and sees that she looks even paler and sadder than before. This reminds the poetess of her childhood, fear of losing her mother, but she tries to hide her sadness by only saying "see you soon, Amma" and smiling.
The poem is filled with emotions and shows how the person is trying to cope with the fact that her mother is getting older and may not be around forever. The imagery of the mother's face looking ashen like a corpse and pale as a late winter's moon. It conveys the idea of death and remind the poet of her fear of losing her mother.
However, the person also tries to distract herself with the scenery around her, such as trees and children playing. This shows how people may try to distract themselves from the reality of aging and death by focusing on the present moment and the beauty around them.
Overall, the poem is a bittersweet reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing the time we have with our loved ones. It shows how even the smallest moments, such as a smile or a simple goodbye, can hold so much meaning and emotion.
Central Idea or Theme of the poem My Mother At Sixty Six
The poem "My Mother at Sixty-Six" by Kamala Das is a reflection on the passing of time and the realization of the aging of one's parents. The poet is driving with her mother from her parent's home to Cochin and she notices her mother dozing off with an open mouth, looking very pale and ashen. This realization makes the poet feel pain and sadness, but she tries to push those feelings aside by looking at the scenery outside the car.
As she passes young trees and children playing, the poet tries to distract herself from the reality of her mother's aging. However, after going through airport security and seeing her mother standing a few yards away, the poet looks at her again and is reminded of her childhood fear of losing her mother.
Despite the ache and fear she feels, the poet only says "see you soon, Amma" and smiles, trying to hide her true feelings. The poem ends with the repetition of the word "smile," emphasizing the facade the poet puts on to hide her sadness and the weight of the passing of time.
Overall, the poem is a poignant reflection on the inevitability of aging and the fear of losing loved ones. The imagery of the mother's ashen face and the narrator's childhood fear of losing her mother conveys a sense of sadness and grief. The poet's attempt to distract herself with the beauty of nature and the innocence of children highlights the importance of cherishing the present moment and the simple joys in life.
The poem also touches on the complex emotions that come with aging parents, such as the fear of losing them and the realization of their mortality. The repetition of the word "smile" at the end of the poem suggests that the poet may be trying to accept the passing of time and the inevitable aging of her parents, but at the same time, it may also hint at the difficulty of fully coming to terms with these emotions.
In summary, "My Mother at Sixty-Six" is a touching and introspective poem that explores the themes of aging, mortality, and the complexity of emotions that come with the passing of time. It is a reminder to cherish the present moment with our loved ones and to appreciate the beauty of life while we still can.
POETIC DEVICES
The poem "My Mother at Sixty-Six" by Kamala Das employs several poetic devices. These enhance its imagery and convey its themes very well. Some of the notable poetic devices used in the poem include:
1. Simile
The poet uses similes to create vivid comparisons. For example, the line "her face ashen like that of a corpse" compares the pallor of the mother's face to the color of a lifeless body, emphasizing her frailty and mortality.
2. Imagery
The poem is rich in visual imagery, painting a picture in the reader's mind. Examples include "Young Trees sprinting" and "pale as a late winter’s moon." These images evoke the passing of time, the transience of life, and the poetess's emotions.
3. Symbolism
The late winter's moon mentioned in the poem can be seen as a symbol of the mother's aging and the approaching end of her life. It represents the poetess's fear and realization of mortality.
4. Repetition
The repetition of the word "smile" at the end of the poem creates emphasis and reinforces the poetess's attempt to hide her true feelings. It also highlights the conflict between the external display of happiness and the internal sadness.
5. Enjambment
The poem uses enjambment, which means that a sentence or phrase continues onto the next line without punctuation. This technique creates a flowing effect, allowing ideas to blend into one another smoothly and maintaining the poem's contemplative tone.
6. Alliteration
The poet uses alliteration, the repetition of consonant sounds, to create rhythm and musicality. An example is the line "the merry children spilling/out of their homes," where the repetition of the "m" sound adds a musical quality to the line.
7. Metaphor
Although not explicitly mentioned, the poem employs metaphor to convey the emotions and themes. The mother's face being "ashen like that/of a corpse" can be seen as a metaphor for her mortality and the narrator's fear of losing her.
8. Personification
The poet personifies the young trees by attributing them with the action of "sprinting." This personification adds a sense of liveliness and movement to the scenery, contrasting with the stillness and aging of the mother.
These poetic devices contribute to the overall impact and beauty of the poem, enabling the reader to engage with the narrator's emotions and reflect on the universal experience of aging and the passage of time.
Word Meanings
- Beside - साथ में
- Doze - झपकी लेना
- Corpse - लाश
- Spilling - बाहर निकलते हुए
- Wan - फीका रंग
- Pale - फीका पीला
- Familiar - जानी पहचानी
- Ache - पीड़ा
My Mother At Sixty Six Questions and Answers (NCERT Solutions)
1. What is the kind of pain and the ache that the poet feels?
The poet feels a kind of pain and ache when she sees her mother looking pale and ashen like a corpse. It's the pain of realizing that her mother is getting older and may not be around forever. It reminds her fear of losing her mother, which brings sadness.
2. Why are the young tress described as 'sprinting'?
The young trees are described as 'sprinting' to show their energetic and lively nature. It creates a contrast with the aging and stillness of the mother. The word 'sprinting' suggests a sense of movement and vitality, highlighting the fleeting nature of youth and time.
3. Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children 'spilling out of their homes'?
The image of the merry children 'spilling out of their homes' represents the innocence and joy of childhood. It brings a sense of liveliness and happiness to the scene. The poet brings this image to distract herself from the sadness of her mother's aging and to focus on the simple pleasures of life.
4. Why has the mother been compared to the 'late winter's moon'?
The mother has been compared to the 'late winter's moon' because the moon in late winter appears pale and wan. It symbolizes the mother's aging and frailty. It also evokes a sense of coldness and the approaching end of a season, reflecting the poet's fear and realization of mortality.
5. What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
The parting words of the poet, "see you soon, Amma," and her smile signify her attempt to hide her true feelings of sadness and fear. She doesn't want her mother to see her pain, so she puts on a cheerful facade. The smile represents her effort to remain positive and maintain a sense of normalcy, even though deep down she feels an ache and sadness.
6. Where is the poet going and who is with her?
The poet is going from her parent's home to Cochin. She is driving with her mother, who is described in the poem. The mother is present with the poet throughout the journey, and the poet observes her and reflects on her emotions and fears related to her aging.
My Mother at Sixty Six MCQ
Here are some important multiple-choice questions based on the poem "My Mother at Sixty Six":-
1. What is the central theme of the poem?
- a) The beauty of nature
- b) The fear of aging
- c) The importance of family
- d) The joy of childhood
2. The poet compares her mother's face to the color of a corpse to emphasize:
- a) Her mother's sleepiness
- b) Her mother's youthfulness
- c) Her mother's frailty and mortality
- d) Her mother's happiness
3. Why does the poet mention the young trees as "sprinting"?
- a) To show their rapid growth
- b) To highlight their beauty
- c) To express the poet's love for nature
- d) To contrast their energy with her mother's aging
4. What do the merry children represent in the poem?
- a) The poet's childhood memories
- b) The passing of time
- c) The beauty of youth
- d) The poet's fear of death
5. The comparison of the mother to a "late winter's moon" suggests:
- a) Her vibrant and lively nature
- b) Her wisdom and experience
- c) Her pale and fragile appearance
- d) Her connection to nature
6. What do the parting words of the poet, "see you soon, Amma," indicate?
- a) The poet's fear of separation
- b) The poet's excitement for the journey
- c) The poet's desire for a happy farewell
- d) The poet's acceptance of her mother's aging
Answers:
- b) The fear of aging
- c) Her mother's frailty and mortality
- d) To contrast their energy with her mother's aging
- c) The beauty of youth
- c) Her pale and fragile appearance
- c) The poet's desire for a happy farewell
Conclusion
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