How do the parting words of the poet and her smile represent a contrast to her real feelings?
Answers
The poet's parting words and her smile are a facade to hide her feelings of insecurity. The pale and snile appearance of her mother brings back her childhood fear of losing her mother. She reassures her mother that all will be well and they would meet again.
Answer:
The poetess' words and smile are a deliberate attempt to hide her real feelings.
On the inside Kamala Das is afraid of losing her mother as she was growing wan and pale and that she might never see her again but on the outside, the poetess was smiling to hide her real feelings from her mother because she did not want her mother to worry about her. She was accepting the reality of life that with aging, separation and death become inevitable. Also, she was reassuring herself that she will see her other again.
This shows that the parting words of the poetess' and her smile represent a contrast to her real feelings.