My Mother at Sixty Six
The
poem “My Mother at Sixty Six” beautifully shows an ever unfailing relationship
between a daughter and her mother. Nostalgia smeared in separation appears to
be the default setting of the poem.
The
poet is driving from her parents’ home to Cochin by car, her mother by her
side—sleeping –open mouthed very pale, colorless and frail-like a dead body
indicating that her end was near. The poet looks at her and feels intense pain
and agony to realize that soon death will cast her mother from her. She tries
to divert her mind, looks outside at the young trees and happy children
bursting out of their homes in a playful mood (a contrasting image) and then
looks towards her mother who is sleeping weak like a dead body.
After
the security check at the airport, she looks again at her mother’s face—pale
and cold and smiles to hide her guilt and anxiety and with a hope to see her
again.
“Familiar
ache-My childhood fear” –the poet has always had a very intimate and close
relationship with her mother and she has always felt the fear of being
separated from her mother hence it is familiar. The poet reassures her mother
that they will meet again
No comments:
Post a Comment