Summary of my mother at sixty six 2 english
Answers
In the first stanza, the poet begins with telling that the last Friday morning, she was driving to Cochin. She saw her mother who was sitting beside her. The use of the phrase last Friday morning is not just to depict a day but also to show that it is past now. In other words, the poet uses this phrase in order to tell that time never stops. Everything in the world goes in the past.The poet probably tries to compare her mother with last Friday morning as both had their springtime (mother was young and the day had its morning) but now they are in the past (the day has gone and her mother’s youth has also gone). Thus in the very first lines, the central theme of the poem is revealed.
In the second stanza, the poet discusses the miserable condition of her old mother. According to the poet, her mother seemed to be in light sleep with her mouth open- a helpless state. She compares her pale and ash-like face with that of a corpse.Thus she finds her mother to be corpse-like or in other words, she finds her (mother) near death. This makes her realize that her mother has grown old and this very realization is quite painful. Here one can sense the love of a daughter for her mother and her fear of losing her.
In the third stanza, we find the poet’s attempt to escape the painful experience. She looks out of the car and sees young trees which are coming out of the ground and merry children who are moving out of their homes. Both trees and children show the growing and energetic stage of one’s life which according to the poet is the stage of merry-making. Hence the poet, in a way, finds relief in young age and tries to escape there.If we compare this stanza with the previous one, we find that the poet tries to contrast the old age with the young age. The old age is doomed, lifeless and helpless and one cannot get relief from it as it reminds of death whereas the young age is full of joy and ecstasy that symbolizes strength vigor and happiness and gives a sort of relief.
In fourth stanza, the poet who has reached the airport stands at a distance from her old mother and again puts her eyes on her. This time she again seems to be pale. The poet compares her (mother) with late winter’s moon whose glow is dimmed by mist and fog making it appear pale, dull and lifeless.The poet is reminded of the childhood fear of losing her mother. She suffers the same pain now as she suffered in her childhood. Thus in this stanza, the poet reveals that the fear of losing one’s dear does not bear by old age but it is eternal and remains with one even in the childhood. Hence the poet juxtaposes the fear of both the stages of one’s life.
In the final stanza, the poet who is unable to bear the pain and find a solution to her fear and pain, bids goodbye and says see you soon, Amma and ultimately puts a fake smile on her face (all I did was smile and smile and smile…).