MY MOTHER AT SIXTY-SIX

Kamala Das

Kamala Suraiyya, aka Madhavikutty, (31 March 1934 – 31 May 2009) was an Indian writer who
wrote in English and Malayalam, her native language. A poet, short-story writer and memoirist,
Das was known for her open discussion of women’s sexual and romantic lives.

An interesting read on Das. Follow the link given below:

http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/kamala-das-many-selves-many-
tongues/article7056859.ece

Summary

The poem, ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’ rendered in blank verse, examines the theme of advancing
age and the fear of loss and separation.

The poetess on way to the airport at Cochin is suddenly struck by the thought that her mother
has grown old. This realization being sudden is alarming. Old age seems to have crept up on her
and it is a reality that she finds hard to accept. Her corpse like an ashen face brings thoughts of
her eventual death. Her mother sleeping beside her in the car appears pale and worn out and the
green trees racing past and speeding car are a grim reminder that time has flown by. The joyous
children playing outside give her the respite that she is seeking from her thoughts of old age and
parting as they are representative of youth, energy and life. Perhaps they take her back to the
days of her idyllic youth when her mother too was young and energetic or perhaps they bring to
the fore the fear of losing her mother that haunts every young child. Once again she feels the
insecurity of parting from her mother- who has lost the blush of youth and middle age and in the
twilight of her life has become as pale as lustreless as the winter moon.

Beset with sorrow at this knowledge and with the insecurity and pain of parting the poetess at
the airport bids her old mother goodbye, smiling all the time in a vain attempt to hide her real
feelings.
Mood

The poetess is sad and anxious. She is agonized at the thought of losing her mother. She is afraid
and feels insecure.

Setting

The poet is on her way to the airport in Cochin. She is sitting in a car with her mother.

Themes

1. Fear of loss and separation

2. Nostalgia
3. Transient/ ephemeral nature of life.
4. Complex subtleties of human relationships.

Poetic Devices

Simile – a) her face ashen like that of a corpse

b) As a late winter’s moon
Personification - Trees sprinting
Metaphor – merry children spilling out of their homes
Irony- trees sprinting while the mother appears like a corpse
Repetition- smile and smile and smile
Tautology- wan, pale

Make sure you are able to explain each and every device. When in doubt, READ. Do your research!
-Neha Goel