My Mother at Sixty Six Question Answers

My Mother at Sixty-Six
By Kamala Das

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 realised 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…

Summary of My Mother at Sixty-Six

The poem describes the poet’s feelings when she sees her mother growing old. While traveling in a car, she notices her mother’s pale, worn-out face, resembling a corpse. This realization fills her with fear and sadness. To distract herself from these thoughts, she looks outside at the lively world, but the painful truth remains. When she bids goodbye at the airport, she hides her sorrow and tries to smile, even though she feels emotional pain.

Themes of the Poem

1. Aging and Mortality – The poet fears losing her mother as she sees signs of aging.
2. Love and Emotional Bond – The deep attachment between the poet and her mother is evident.
3. Childhood vs. Reality – The poet recalls childhood memories but faces the harsh reality of aging.
4. Human Nature to Avoid Pain – She tries to divert her thoughts to avoid sadness.

My Mother at Sixty Six Short Answer Questions & Answers

1. Where was the poet going and with whom?
   • The poet was going to Cochin airport in a car with her mother.
2. What did the poet notice about her mother?
   • She noticed that her mother was dozing with an open mouth, and her face looked pale and lifeless, like a corpse.
3. Why did the poet feel pain when she looked at her mother?
   • She felt pain because she realized that her mother was aging and could pass away soon.
4. How did the poet try to distract herself from the painful thought?
   • She looked outside the car at the young trees and happy children playing to divert her mind.
5. What does the poet compare her mother’s face to?
   • She compares her mother’s face to a pale winter’s moon, symbolizing aging and fading beauty.
6. What was the poet’s childhood fear?
   • Her childhood fear was losing her mother.
7. How did the poet hide her emotions at the airport?
   • She smiled repeatedly and said, “See you soon, Amma,” even though she was sad.
8. What does the phrase “smile and smile and smile” suggest?
   • It suggests the poet’s attempt to hide her sadness and reassure her mother with a brave face.

Some More Short Answer Questions & Answers

9. What is the significance of the title My Mother at Sixty-Six?
   • The title highlights the poet’s realization of her mother’s old age and the fear of losing her.
10. Why does the poet compare her mother’s face to a “corpse”?

• The poet compares her mother’s face to a corpse because it looks pale, weak, and lifeless, indicating old age and approaching death.

11. What do “young trees sprinting” and “merry children spilling” symbolize?

• They symbolize youth, energy, and life, which contrast with the poet’s mother’s aging and fragility.

12. Why does the poet feel the “old familiar ache”?

• She feels the pain of separation and her childhood fear of losing her mother.

13. Why does the poet not express her feelings openly?

• She does not express her feelings openly to avoid making her mother sad and tries to appear strong.

14. What does the pale winter’s moon symbolize in the poem?

• It symbolizes old age, weakness, and the fading of life.

15. How does the poet bid farewell to her mother?

• She says, “See you soon, Amma,” and smiles repeatedly to hide her sadness.

16. What emotions does the poet experience in the poem?

• She experiences love, pain, fear, helplessness, and sorrow.

17. Why does the poet look out of the car window?

• She looks outside to distract herself from the painful thought of her mother’s aging.

18. What is the central theme of the poem?

• The poem explores themes of aging, love, separation, and the fear of losing a loved one.

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My Mother at Sixty Six Long Answer Questions

1. Describe the poet’s feelings and emotions when she looks at her aging mother in the poem My Mother at Sixty-Six.
   • The poet feels deep sorrow when she sees her mother dozing in the car, her face pale and lifeless like a corpse. She is suddenly struck by the reality of her mother’s old age and fears losing her. To distract herself from these painful thoughts, she looks outside at the young trees and happy children, which symbolize life and energy. However, the pain returns when she bids farewell to her mother at the airport. She feels the same fear she had as a child. Despite her sadness, she tries to be strong by smiling and reassuring her mother that they will meet again. The poem beautifully expresses the poet’s emotions of love, fear, and helplessness.
2. How does the poet use imagery in My Mother at Sixty-Six to convey her emotions?
   • Kamala Das effectively uses imagery to express her emotions in the poem. She describes her mother’s face as “ashen like a corpse” to emphasize her old age and fragility. The contrast between the aging mother and the lively “young trees sprinting” and “merry children spilling” shows the difference between youth and old age. The poet also compares her mother’s pale face to a “late winter’s moon,” symbolizing fading life and weakness. These vivid images help the reader feel the poet’s pain and emotional struggle as she deals with the reality of her mother’s aging.
3. Why does the poet feel the “old familiar ache” in the poem? What does it signify?
   • The “old familiar ache” refers to the poet’s deep-rooted fear of losing her mother. As a child, she was always afraid of being separated from her mother, and now, as she sees her aging, the same fear returns. It signifies her helplessness in the face of time and mortality. She knows that she cannot stop her mother from growing old, and this realization causes her pain. The ache also reflects the universal fear of losing a loved one, making the poem relatable to everyone who has experienced separation or the passage of time.
4. Discuss the theme of separation and loss in My Mother at Sixty-Six.
   • The poem beautifully captures the theme of separation and loss through the poet’s emotions and thoughts. She realizes that her mother is aging and may not be with her forever, which fills her with sadness. Although she tries to distract herself, the fear of losing her mother remains. At the airport, she feels the pain of parting but chooses to smile instead of expressing her sorrow. The poet’s attempt to hide her emotions shows the painful reality of human relationships—love comes with the fear of separation. The poem highlights the inevitability of aging and the emotional struggle of dealing with it.
5. How does the poem My Mother at Sixty-Six reflect the bond between the poet and her mother?
   • The poem reflects a strong emotional bond between the poet and her mother. The poet deeply loves her mother and feels pain when she sees her growing old. The fear of separation is evident throughout the poem. Despite this fear, she does not want to make her mother sad, so she controls her emotions and smiles at the end. Her attempt to reassure her mother with a smile shows her care and concern. The poem beautifully portrays the love, attachment, and silent sacrifices made in a mother-daughter relationship.