My Mother at Sixty-six

Summary

My Mother at Sixty-Six by Kamala Das is a deeply emotional poem that explores the theme of aging and the fear of losing a loved one. The poet describes a car journey with her 66-year-old mother, who is dozing off with her mouth open, her face pale and lifeless like a corpse. This sight brings a sudden realization to the poet—her mother is growing old and may soon die. As she looks outside, she sees young children playing and trees rushing past, which symbolize life, energy, and contrast with her mother’s frailty. At the airport, while bidding goodbye, the poet notices once again her mother's pale face, comparing it to a late winter’s moon—dim and fading. Though filled with sorrow, she hides her emotions and simply says, “See you soon, Amma,” expressing love and hope despite the pain. The repetition of the word 'smile' shows her increasing effort to hide her fear. The poem captures a universal emotion—the helplessness and anxiety we feel when we see our parents grow old and fear their inevitable departure.

Literary Devices

1. Symbolism

Symbolism is a key device in the poem. Some important symbols include:

"Doze, open-mouthed": This symbolizes helplessness and fragility, linking the mother’s present state with old age and impending death.

"Ashen face": The comparison to ash symbolizes lifelessness and decay, a reminder of the mother’s mortality.

"Children spilling out of their homes": They symbolize youth, energy, and life, creating a sharp contrast with the old, passive figure of the mother.

"Merry children" vs. "wan, pale face": This juxtaposition symbolizes the cycle of life – from vitality to decline.

2. Simile

The poem uses effective similes to deepen the emotional impact:

“Her face ashen like that of a corpse”: A powerful simile that brings a stark image of death into the speaker’s consciousness.

“As a late winter’s moon”: A subtle yet poignant simile. The late winter moon symbolizes fading beauty, dimness, and the cold reality of aging.

3. Imagery

Kamala Das uses vivid imagery to evoke emotions:

Visual imagery: “Face ashen,” “doze, open-mouthed,” “wan, pale,” and “children spilling out” create clear, striking pictures in the reader’s mind.

Auditory imagery is less prominent but implied through the “doze” and the silence in the car, enhancing the solemn mood.

4. Tone and Mood

Tone: Reflective, anxious, melancholic, and tender.

Mood: The reader feels sympathy, a sense of sorrow, and emotional vulnerability, mirroring the speaker’s feelings.

5. Enjambment and Free Verse

The poem is written in free verse with enjambment, reflecting the flow of thoughts and the speaker’s emotional turmoil.

The lack of punctuation in many places adds to the sense of a stream of consciousness, making it feel like a personal confession.

6. Theme

Aging and mortality: The central theme, shown through the speaker’s observation of her mother’s aging and her own fear of losing her.

Mother-daughter bond: Though not expressed overtly, the emotional depth of the relationship is evident.

Separation and fear of loss: A recurring motif, especially in the final lines when the speaker says “See you soon, Amma,” trying to hide her true feelings.