12th Eng Flamingo poem-1 MY MOTHER AT SIXTY SIX, Summary Introduction, message

POEM-1 Flamingo 

MY MOTHER AT SIXTY SIX

 BY KAMALA DAS

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE POEM

Ageing is a natural process. The same is true about children's affection and concern for the elders. The theme of Kamala Das' poem is the filial affection or human relationship. The sensitive poetess chooses the moment of parting to reveal how painful the parting from her aged mother can be. She is leaving for some distant destination. She drives along with her mother to the airport The elderly lady is not quite healthy though she is only sixty-six. She looks sickly and pale. The daughter has a nagging fear that mother would not live long enough to receive her on her next visit. She sees the young trees and little children running merrily. This makes her all the more concerned about the failing health of her Amma. Nevertheless, she bids her goodbye at the airport with a smile and a hope to see her soon again.

Message

Relationship between people becomes stronger at every aspect of life and they can't bear separation due to aging. In this poem, the poet relates a personal experience. She brings out a common paradox of human relationships and portrays a sensational separation of a mother and a daughter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE POEM

The poet was driving from her parent's home to the Cochin airport last Friday morning. Her mother was sitting beside her. She was sixty-six years old. The old lady was dozing. Her mouth remained open. Her face looked pale and faded. It was grey like ash. It looked lifeless like a corpse (dead body). The lifeless and faded face of her mother pained her heart. The old lady seemed to be lost in her own thoughts. The poet turned away her attention from her mother and looked outside. The world outside was full of life and activity. The young trees seemed running fast. The children looked happy while moving out of their homes. When they were at the airport, they had to undergo a security check. The poet was standing a few yards away from her mother. She looked again at her old mother. She felt pained to look at the colourless, lifeless and pale face of her mother. Her face looked faded like the late winter's moon which had lost its shine and strength. This aroused the old familiar ache in the poet's heart. Her childhood fear overpowered her again. However, she controlled herself. She appeared to be normal. She scattered smiles on her face while saying good bye to her mother. She wished to see her old Amma again.

Poem-1 My Mother At Sixty Six

 Solved Extracts

https://englishscholarhubclgautam.blogspot.com/2024/04/12th-engflamingo-poem-1-solved-extracts.html

Poem-1 My Mother At Sixty Six 

Questions and answers 

https://youtu.be/657T-rW-Woo?si=IvL2qRLsiWYIZpPr