The essence of this poem for last-minute revision: the poet, the poem, its devices, theme and a fast recap. The full notes, with the movement-by-movement explanation, are available separately.
1 The Poem in One Line Each
My Mother at Sixty-six
1. PoetKamala Das, pen name Madhavikutty
2. SettingA car journey to Cochin airport, “last Friday”
3. First imageMother dozing, face “ashen like that of a corpse”
4. ContrastSprinting young trees, merry spilling children
5. Second imageMother “wan, pale as a late winter’s moon”
6. Ending“See you soon, Amma”; “smile and smile and smile……”
2 Poem at a Glance
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Poet | Kamala Das (1934-2009) |
| Form | Free verse: one unbroken sentence, no stanzas, no rhyme |
| Setting | A car, driving to the airport at Cochin, “last Friday morning” |
| Theme (one reading) | A daughter’s fear of losing her ageing mother, hidden behind a smile |
| Tone | Quiet, restrained and sorrowful |
3 Poetic Devices, with Their Lines
All devices in one place
Simile“ashen like that of a corpse”; “pale as a late winter’s moon”
Metaphor“that old familiar ache” (fear spoken of as a pain)
Personification“Young Trees sprinting”
ImageryThe corpse-pale face, the sprinting trees, the winter moon
Contrast / JuxtapositionThe ageing mother against sprinting trees and merry children
Repetition / Polysyndeton“smile and smile and smile”
EllipsisThe “……” after “smile”, feeling left unsaid
EnjambmentThe whole poem is one continuous, run-on sentence
Free verseNo fixed rhyme scheme or metre
3.1 Words to Know
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sprinting | short fast race, running |
| wan | colourless |
| ashen | pale grey, colour of ash |
| doze | sleep lightly |
| Amma | an affectionate word for “mother” |
Quick Revision
- Poet: Kamala Das (1934-2009), pen name Madhavikutty
- The poem is one single enjambed sentence, free verse, no rhyme
- Two similes: “ashen like that of a corpse”; “pale as a late winter’s moon”
- Central contrast: ageing mother against sprinting trees and merry children
- Theme (one reading): fear of losing an ageing parent, felt strongly but never spoken aloud
- Ending: “see you soon, Amma” and “smile and smile and smile……”
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