My Mother at Sixty-six Summary, Explanation and Difficult Words | My Mother at Sixty-six Question and Answers Class 12

My Mother at Sixty Six is the first poem of the Class 12th  Flamingo Poetry Section. In this poem, the poet has deeply shared the pain of being separated from her mother. The poet has to go to Cochin airport on Friday morning. She finds her mother suffering in old age which aches her a lot. In this article, you will come to know  My Mother at Sixty six Summary, Difficult Words, Questions- Answers and the top 40 MCQs Questions.

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1. My Mother at Sixty-six: About the Poet

Kamala Surayya was born on 31 March 1934 in Malabar district Kerla.

She wrote many famous novels and beautiful short stories in English and Malayalam under the pen name ‘Madhavikutty.’

His father’s name was V.M Nair, a very famous managing editor, and her mother’s name was Nalapat Balamani Amma, a renowned Malayali poet.

She spent her childhood in Calcutta where her father was employed as a senior officer in the Walford Transport Company. She was married to Madhav Das, a bank officer at the age of 15.

She had three children with him namely Madhav Das Nalapat, Chinnen Das, and Jayasurya Das. Her notable awards are Sahitya Akademi Award, Asan World Prize, and Kent Award.

She died in the hospital of Pune on 31 May  2007 (aged 75).

2. My Mother at Sixty-six Theme

Ageing is a natural process. Over time, we are mature and our parents grow old. They face the difficulties of old age and needed the love and support of their children.

The poem talks about the expectation of parents and the helplessness of young generations who have to move out leaving their parents in the search of jobs.

my mother at sixty six

3. My Mother at Sixty-Six Stanza Wise Discussion

3.1 My Mother at Sixty-six Stanza I

Driving from my parent’s …………. out of their homes.

3.2 My Mother at Sixty-six Word Meaning

  • Doze (sleep lightly) उंघना
  • Ashen (pale) पीलापन
  • Corpse (dead body) लाश
  • Sprinting (running behind) पीछे भागना
  • Merry Children (happy children) खुश बच्चे

 3.3 Explanation:

The poetess says here that she had to make a return journey from her mother’s home to the Cochin airport last Friday morning. While going to the airport, She looked at her mother who was suffering a lot in old age.

She was dozing open-mouthed, her face was similar to ash and seemed to be a corpse. The poetess felt sad because of the strong bonding and looked outside.

She found that the young trees were sprinting and merry children were spilling out of their homes. The poet actually wanted to remember her own child when she had feared losing her mother.

4 My Mother at Sixty-six Stanza II

But after the airport …………  smile and smiles and smile

4.1 My Mother at Sixty-six Word Meaning

  • Yard –  (a unit of measurement) गज
  • Wan (sick) उदास
  • Pale (pallid) पीला हो जाना
  • Familiar (known) परिचित 

4.2 Explanation:

The poetess reached the airport crossing through the narrow streets. She again looked at her mother who was very much tired and her body was completely shattered.

She compared her mother to the late winter’s moon. She had the fear to lose her mother in childhood. In the end, she said see you soon amma and smiled three times to hide her helplessness.

The poet had to go because she had also her own duty.

my mother at sixty six

5. My Mother at Sixty-six Video Lecture

Video Credit: Simran Sahni Youtube Channel

6. My Mother at Sixty-six Questions and Answers

 1. What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?

The poet feels that her mother is very old and she has not had much energy to conduct lonely. She needs her support badly but the poet is also helpless as she has to move on the life. She had a great fear of losing her because of great bonding. She still has fear to lose her mother one day.

2. Why are the young trees described as sprinting?

‘Young trees’ are personified here The young trees seem to be sprinting because the car is moving on as well as the poet wants to say that the young trees are full of energy.

3. Why has the poet brought in the image of merry children ‘spilling out of their homes?

The poet has brought in the image of merry children spilling out of their homes to show the early beauty of life. The childhood phase of life is full of enthusiasm, love, and caring. The poet says that ageing is a natural process and we are bounded with so many of responsibilities when we grow old and finally old age knocks us with difficulties of old age.

4. Why has the mother been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’?

The mother has been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’ because she is very dull and tired in the last stage of life and unable to conduct a lonely life. The winter moon has no light and charm so is the case of Mother. Her death is approaching near.

5. What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?

The poet is optimistic in life. She is very much sure that they are meeting soon. She actually covers her pain of separation with a smile.

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7. My Mother at Sixty six Summary

The poem, My Mother at Sixty six has been composed by Kamala Das is a heart-touching poem based on difficulties during old age and the fear of separation.

This is actually one line poem separated by commas. The poetess was driving from her parent’s home to Cochin airport last Friday. Her mother sitting beside her was dozing and her body was wan and pale.

Death was approaching near. In other words, she seemed to be a corpse. The poet felt the familiar ache. She turns away her attention and looked outside.

She found that the young trees full of energy were sprinting. The merry children are spilling out of their homes. After reaching the airport, standing a few yards away, the poetess looked at her mother twice.

She noticed her in the same pain. She compares her mother to “a late Winter’s moon.” After the security check, She said see you soon, Amma and smiled three times.

This shows that she has love and cares for her mother but can’t stay longer because she has her own duty there.

Frequent Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the summary of the poem of my mother at sixty-six?

The poet has mainly discussed the difficulties during old age.  The poem talks about the expectation of parents and the helplessness of young generations who have to move out leaving their parents in the search of jobs.

What is the main conclusion of the poem my mother at Sixty-six?

Ageing is a natural process. Over time, we are mature and our parents grow old. They face the difficulties of old age and needed the love and support of their children. The poet asks us to stay with our parents in our time of need. 

What is the theme of my mother at 66?

Ageing is a natural process. Over time, we are mature and our parents grow old. They face the difficulties of old age and needed the love and support of their children. The poem talks about the expectation of parents and the helplessness of young generations who have to move out leaving their parents in the search of jobs.

Who is the poetess of my mother at sixty-six?

Poem- My Mother at Sixty-six
Poet – Kamala Das

What is the mother compared to my mother at sixty-six?

The mother has been compared to the late winter’s moon because she was wan, pale and tired as the moon looks in Winter. She was unable to bear the difficulties of old age. 

What does the poet’s mother look like in the poem my mother at Sixty-six?

She was wan, pale, tired and had no energy. She was dozing too. Her mouth was open and her body was completely wrinkled. 

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