MY MOTHER AT SIXTY — SIX BY - KAMALA DAS UNIVERSALITY OF THE THEME: Theme of inescapable decay presentiment of emotional susceptibility leading to terrible fear of death, separation-isolation. The daughter's feelings and concern are portrayed in a sensitive manner. One of the many childhood fears that distressed her was the fear of her. mother's death. Stanza 1 : poem enumerates * 4, pain and anguish felt by poet 2. on seeing her ageing mother sitting in car 3. on her way - airport 4,dozing -mouth open =: visage pale, ashen, lifeless like that of a corpse 5, dismay- irisecurity -triggered childhood fear. ' Stanza 2 Escapism-looks outside: car to put —dreadful thought away 4. contrast between her mother’s weakness and frailty and 2. blossoming life-exuberance-young trees sprinting-racing past-grim reminder of the passage of time 3.Children sprinting-new hope-happiness-youth-poet drifted back to-days of idyllic youth when mother —young- energetic. 4-now grim reminder of lost youth- twilight - inching towards death, Stanza 3. After security check -standing few yards away 1.looks - mother’s face 2- wan like winter moon-resembles foggy -misty - end of cycle - 3.feels twitch in heart- old familiar ache- childhood fear seizes her 4,adhered — loss & separation 5.beset with sorrow- insecurity agonizing thought of, mother's impending death 6- bids goodbye- hide fear by smiling-telling-'see you soon Amma’ 7. hiding her own grief she smiled and smiled and smiled-assurance-Use of poetic devices: emphasizes - old age of mother and reinforces - fact - she- nearing her death. SIMILE : (1)Her face ashen like that of a corpse : poet sees mother dozing off with her mouth open, almost like a corpse — it seems to have lost all vitality - the grey colour of ash is usually associated with a dead body- triggers the pain of losing her mother who is close to death. (2) Wan, pale as a late winter moon: reinforces the idea that the mother's face was pale and lifeless like that of a fading winter moon. Winter is symbolic of the last cycle of season-hence waning moon - mother’s frail health misted by age indicative of imminent death. poet resorts to escapism to avoid the harsh realities that stares her in the face- dispels the horrifying thoughts by diverting her attention to the images of the young trees and merry children ’ IMAGERY : Merry children spilling out of their homes : youthful and exuberant spring of life - contrast to the morbid atmosphere inside the car =the old mother weak, frail, inactive. PERSONIFICATION : Young trees sprinting -The Sprinting movement of the trees rushing past signify youth, life or passage of time. The mother -travelling in the car-lifeless, helpless decayed by age. Her instinctive awareness leads to the familiar ache-painful realization-of helplessness (cannot share her fears with her mother fear stemmed out of unknown-didn’t want to worry her ) -fear of separation—that childhood fear — inherent in all children-of losing one’s loved ones- fear of death. REPETITION: Smile and smile and smile: emphasis on the fact that she made a desperate effort to cover up her guilt, anxiety and agonizing thought of her mother's impending death by putting up a smile to bid her a cheerful adieu.MY MOTHER AT SIXTY-SIX Kamala Das Critical analysis: The poem details the pain and anguish felt by the poet on seeing hef ageing mother. It is a sensitive portrayal of a daughter's feelings and concern. The physical description of the mother leads to the fear of death, which is inevitable. The mother’s face is described as ‘ashen like a corpse’ and ‘pale as a late winter's moon’...both of which imply death. The image of the ‘merry children’ and ‘young trees sprinting’ is used to bring out a contrast between the ageing mother and youth. The poet also speaks of her childhood fear — the fear inherent in all children — of losing one's dear ones. The entire poem is contained in one sentence, interspersed with commas, which is an indication of all the feelings and emotions and fears that the poet has for her mother. Key points toremember: + 1. The emotions of fear and pain experienced by the poet 2. The sad tone of the poemso ROPnoaPY The words and phrases which are indicative of death Imagery used in the poem * -veetee The poetic devices used The style in which the poem is written Significance of the title Universality of the theme Sprinting trees signify youth, life or the passage of time«Sample answers (Short answer questions) 4: What is the ‘pain and ache’ felt by. the poet on seeing her mother? When the poet sees her mother dozing off with her mouth open, almost corpse like, she is agonized by the thought that her mother was growing old and the fear of losing her to death, gripped her. 2: How does the poet dispel the hoirifying thought of losing her. mother? She: diverts her attention to the trees outside, which seem to be sprinting when seen from the moving car, She also looks at the merry children. rushing out of their homes.The morbid atmosphere inside the car is contrasted with the exuberant and youthful image outside enabling her to avoid facing the harsh reality of her mother’s condition. 3. Why does the poet use the imagery of the young children and trees? The poet uses the youthful and exuberant imagery of the young children and trees as a contrast to the weak and inactive mother. This emphasizes the old.age of her mother and reinforces the fact that she is.nearing death. The fleeting trees signify the passage of time. . 4, What did the poet realize with pain and what triggered,the pain? ' The poet realized that her mother was as old as she looked and that she was nearing her end. Seeing her doze with her mouth open, her ashen face looking like that of a corpse, triggered the pain. Reference to Context A. ‘| again looked at her, wan, pale as alate winter's moon and felt that old familiar ache, my childhood’s fear, but all | said was, see you soon, Amma, all | did was smile and smile and smile....’ 4; How does the poet describe her mother's face? Mention the poetic device used. The poetess describes her mother’s face to be pale and fading like ‘the winter's moon. The poetic device used here is a simile, E.g. wan, pale as a late winter moon. 2: What does she refer to as the childhood fear? The poet refers to the childhood fear of losing one’s parent. 3: What did the poet tell her mother? The poet smiled and told her mother that she would see her soon. 4; Why did'the poet smile and smile? The poet was agonized at the thought of her mother’s impending death. She could not reveal this to her mother arid'so she made an effort to cover up her pain by smiling reassuringly. It was also an attempt.at reassuring herself, B, ....put that thought away, and looked out at young i trees sprinting, the merry children spilling ' .1, What thought did:the poet put away? The poet put away the thought that her mother was old and close to death. 2, Why did she put the thought away? « She put the thought away as the thought of losing her mother filled her with pain. 3. Identify a figure of speech, ‘Trees sprinting’ is an example of personification. 4, What is the setting of these lines? : The poet is travelling in a car with her mother and going to the airport in Cochin.