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 realized 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……

Kamala Das (1934—2009) was a pioneering and fearless poet from Kerala, India. Known for her unconventional and bold writing, she defied societal norms and often wrote about the experiences and struggles of women. She authored short stories and poems in both Malayalam and English and was also a columnist.

Her writing frequently addressed themes of women’s suffering, childcare challenges, and the constraints of orthodoxy, which drew both admiration and criticism. Despite facing opposition, particularly from conservative Brahmin circles, Kamala Das remained unapologetically defiant, establishing herself as a significant figure in Indian literature. “My Mother at Sixty-Six” is among her most cherished works, reflecting her deep empathy and love.

Summary

“My Mother at Sixty-Six,” a poignant poem by Kamala Das, captures the deep emotional bond between the poet and her aging mother. Through this intimate narrative, Das explores themes of aging, separation, and the inevitable reality of mortality.

The poem is set during a car journey from the poet’s parental home to Cochin airport, where the poet becomes acutely aware of her mother’s frailty and the passage of time.

Body

The poem begins with the poet driving from her parent’s home to Cochin airport, accompanied by her mother. Observing her mother dozing beside her with her mouth open, the poet is struck by her mother’s pallor, which resembles that of a corpse. This stark image brings a painful realization of her mother’s advancing age and fragility, evoking a deep sense of impending loss.

To divert her troubled thoughts, the poet looks out of the car window, where she sees scenes of vibrant life: trees sprinting past and children spilling out of their homes to play. These lively images stand in sharp contrast to her mother’s lifeless demeanor, highlighting the inevitable cycle of life and death. Despite these distractions, the poet cannot escape the sorrowful recognition of her mother’s declining vitality.

At the airport, after the security check, the poet looks at her mother again and sees her face, wan and pale like a late winter’s moon. This sight revives a familiar childhood fear of losing her mother. Despite this deep-seated fear and the accompanying emotional pain, the poet manages to control her feelings, forcing a smile and waving goodbye to her mother with repeated assurances that they will meet again.

Conclusion

The poem concludes with a bittersweet acceptance of life’s transient nature. Kamala Das poignantly conveys the universal experience of grappling with the aging and eventual loss of loved ones. Through vivid imagery and heartfelt expression, the poet captures the sorrow and tenderness of this inevitable parting. “My Mother at Sixty-Six” ultimately reflects a profound understanding of the cycle of life, emphasizing the enduring love and connection between mother and daughter, even in the face of mortality.