My Mother At Sixty Six

My Mother at Sixty-Six

1. Poetic Summary and Explanation of Lines

Summary of the Poem:

The poem My Mother at Sixty-Six captures the speaker’s emotional reaction upon seeing her aging mother. As she drives away from her mother’s home, the poet is struck by her mother’s pale and frail appearance, which brings to mind thoughts of mortality and separation. The journey symbolizes the distance growing between them, both physical and emotional. The poet’s memories, and her focus on lively scenes outside, contrast sharply with her mother’s deteriorating state. The poem concludes with the poet’s attempt to mask her sadness as she bids farewell, choosing instead to smile.

Explanation of Lines:

● “Driving from my parent’s home...doze, open-mouthed, her face ashen like that of a corpse”:
The poet notices her mother dozing beside her, face pale and lifeless, likened to a corpse. This simile reflects the poet’s sudden realization of her mother’s aging and frailty.

● “I looked again at her, wan, pale / as a late winter’s moon”:
Here, the poet compares her mother’s faded beauty and vitality to a winter’s moon, symbolizing old age and life’s transience. The moon is pale and distant, mirroring her mother’s weakening state.

● “And felt that old / familiar ache...”:
This phrase expresses the poet’s longstanding fear of losing her mother, a fear that resurfaces with intensity. The “familiar ache” symbolizes her deep-seated love and attachment.

● “All I said was, see you soon, Amma, / all I did was smile and smile and smile...”:
Although overwhelmed by sadness, the poet smiles to mask her pain. This repetition emphasizes her inner conflict—she tries to be cheerful for her mother’s sake but feels the burden of parting.

2. Themes and Sub-themes

● Main Theme: Aging and Mortality
The central theme is the inevitable aging and mortality of loved ones. The poet reflects on her mother’s age and frailty, which evoke fears of loss and separation.

● Sub-theme: Mother-Daughter Bond
The poem explores the deep, loving bond between mother and daughter, revealing the poet’s anxiety over her mother’s mortality and the impending separation.

● Sub-theme: Fear of Loss and Separation
The poet’s feelings reveal a universal fear of losing one’s parents, and the struggle to accept the reality of life’s impermanence.

3. Poetic Devices

● Simile:

o “Her face ashen like that of a corpse”: Compares the mother’s pale face to a lifeless corpse, highlighting her age and frailty.

o “As a late winter’s moon”: Compares the mother’s appearance to a winter moon, symbolizing her waning vitality and life.

● Imagery:

o “Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes”: These images of vitality contrast with the mother’s physical decline, reinforcing the themes of youth and aging.

● Alliteration:

o “Smile and smile and smile”: The repetition of “s” sounds creates a rhythmic effect that conveys the poet’s attempt to mask her sadness.

● Personification:

o “Trees sprinting”: Trees are personified as if moving rapidly past the car window, contrasting with the mother’s stillness.

● Symbolism:

o The “winter’s moon” symbolizes aging and the fading vitality of life, while the children and sprinting trees symbolize youth and vibrancy.

4. Mood and Tone

● Mood:
The poem’s mood is nostalgic, tinged with sadness and fear. The poet’s observations evoke a sense of melancholy as she confronts her mother’s aging and mortality.

● Tone:
The tone is reflective and tender, filled with love and quiet sorrow. Kamala Das captures a bittersweet moment, balancing affection with the painful realization of inevitable separation.

5. Message or Moral

The poem’s central message is the inevitability of aging and mortality and the bittersweet pain of separation from loved ones. Kamala Das conveys the importance of cherishing loved ones while they are alive, despite the inevitable reality of loss.

6. Characters and Speaker

● Characters:

o The Mother: An aging woman, pale and frail, representing the poet’s beloved mother whose health and vitality are declining.

o The Children and Trees: These represent vitality and the unstoppable passage of time.

● Speaker (Poet):
Kamala Das herself is the speaker. Her voice reflects both tenderness and sorrow, as she grapples with the transient nature of life and her deep attachment to her mother.

7. Context and Background Information

Kamala Das (1934–2009), a renowned Indian poet, was known for her personal, confessional poetry. Her works often explore themes of love, identity, and familial bonds. In My Mother at Sixty-Six, written in a free verse style, she captures the universal fear of losing one’s parents. The poem reflects her unique voice, which blends intimacy with emotional depth, highlighting her awareness of the transient nature of human relationships.

8. Additional Notes

● Symbols and Motifs:

o The “Winter’s Moon”: A recurring symbol of old age and waning life in literature. Here, it represents the mother’s diminishing vitality.

o “Smile”: The repeated word emphasizes the poet’s attempt to hide her sorrow and maintain composure in front of her mother.

● Keywords:

o “Corpse,” “winter’s moon,” “sprint,” “smile”—these keywords emphasize themes of aging, youth, separation, and acceptance.

Master Passage

In My Mother at Sixty-Six, Kamala Das captures the universal fear of aging and separation from loved ones. As she drives away from her mother’s home, she notices her mother’s pale, “ashen” face, comparing it to a corpse, which triggers her fear of losing her. The poet’s anxiety grows as she reflects on her mother’s inevitable mortality, and she is overwhelmed by a “familiar ache” of sadness and helplessness. Outside the car window, she observes the “sprinting trees” and “merry children,” images symbolizing vitality and the cycle of life, contrasting with her mother’s fragility. In the end, despite her sorrow, she tries to hide her emotions by smiling repeatedly as she says goodbye, choosing to mask her pain with a show of optimism. Through powerful imagery and contrast, Das conveys the themes of aging, loss, and the enduring bond between mother and daughter.