Class 12 Poem 1(Flamingo)

Poem 1

My Mother at Sixty-Six👩

Poet: Kamla Das

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✍Introduction About the Poet:

Kamala Das (1934–2009) was a prominent Indian English poet and writer known for her bold and emotional expression. She wrote about personal experiences, particularly from a woman’s perspective. Her poems often explore themes of love, loss, aging, and identity. “My Mother at Sixty-Six” is a deeply personal and emotional poem that captures her fear of losing her aging mother.
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📙Poem Summary:

The poem describes a moment during a car journey when the poet looks at her 66-year-old mother sleeping beside her. The mother's pale and aging face reminds the poet of death. Kamala Das feels a wave of fear and sadness at the thought of losing her mother.

To distract herself, she looks outside at young trees and children playing, symbols of life and youth. However, the image of her mother’s aging face haunts her again as they reach the airport.

As the poet says goodbye, she smiles at her mother — trying to mask her pain — while silently accepting the inevitable truth of separation and death.

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🙇Key Themes:

a) Aging and Mortality:
The poem sensitively portrays the physical decline that comes with aging and the emotional pain of watching a loved one grow old.

b) Love and Attachment:
The poet’s silent fear of losing her mother reflects deep love and emotional dependence.

c) Separation and Acceptance:
The poem ends with a quiet acceptance of life's realities — aging and death are natural, even though painful.

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📚Poetic Devices:

• Simile: “her face ashen like that of a corpse” — compares the mother’s face to a dead body to show aging and lifelessness.

• Imagery: “trees sprinting,” “children spilling out of their homes” — creates visuals of life and energy.

• Alliteration: “sleeping, open-mouthed” and “smile and smile” — adds rhythm and emphasis.

• Contrast: Between the aging mother and lively surroundings (trees and children).

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🔖Important Quotations:

• “her face ashen like that of a corpse”

→ Symbolizes death, fragility, and the fear of losing her.

• “Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes”

→ Vivid contrast to the mother’s aging — life goes on.

• “I was struck again by that old familiar ache”

→ Recalls the deep emotional pain the poet feels often.

• “smile and smile and smile...”

→ A brave, loving farewell that hides sadness and fear.
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💭Message of the Poem:

The poem reflects the universal truth of aging and death. It teaches us to value time with our loved ones while also preparing emotionally for the pain of separation. Kamala Das captures how love and fear of loss can exist together in silent moments.

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