Hello dear students
Today we are going to discuss the poem 'My mother at sixty six'. The poem is composed by Kamala Das. You need to read the introduction to the poet first.If you do not have the text of the poem with you, please download from here by clicking the link
http://www.ncert.nic.in/ncerts/l/lefl111.pdf
Paraphrasing of the poem----
Driving from my parent's home to Cochin last Friday morning------ The poet, Kamala Das was going to Cochin from her parent's home. It all happened on the last Friday morning.
I saw my mother, beside me, doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that of a corpse--- Kamala Das looked closely at her mother who was sitting near her. She was sleepy. She was breathing open-mouthed because of her old age and blocked nose. Her face was ashen, it was colourless.Her face was looking like a corpse (dead body).
and realised with pain that she was as old as she looked---- Looking at the face of her mother, she realised with pain that her mother had really become very very old. Old age is the indication of coming death. So she became sad.
but soon put that thought away, and looked out at young trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes--- To come out of the sadness she diverted her attention towards the young trees outside which appeared running behind. Trees appeared running behind because she was travelling in her car. Whenever we travel in a vehicle, outside things appear as if they are running behind. She also looked at the happy children coming out of their homes for playing. Young trees here are the symbol of young age which travels fast and leaves old age behind.
This part of the poem has following poetic devices---
1. Simile--- Her face ashen like that of a corpse (The mother's face has been compared with a dead body's face.)
2. Symbolism-- Young trees are the symbol of young age.
The Remaining part of the poem, we shall complete in the next class.
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