---
type: "Chapter"
knowledge_type: "chapter"
entity_type: "chapter"
id: "66defc5d3f8b4e9e69bdd729"
title: "My Mother At Sixty-six"
board: "CBSE"
curriculum: "CBSE"
class: "Class 12"
subject: "English"
book: "Flamingo"
chapter: "My Mother At Sixty-six"
chapter_slug: "my-mother-at-sixty-six"
canonical_url: "https://www.edzy.ai/cbse-class-12-english-flamingo-my-mother-at-sixty-six"
markdown_url: "https://www.edzy.ai/okf/chapter/cbse-class-12-english-flamingo-my-mother-at-sixty-six.md"
source_type: "examSubjectBookChapter"
source_id: "66defc5d3f8b4e9e69bdd729"
source_pdf: "https://edzy-ai.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/edzy-express-ts/03b8a461-de9b-4f28-ba28-47ff1a6b03c7.pdf"
source: "Edzy"
version: 1
last_updated: "2026-06-22"
---

# My Mother At Sixty-six
My Mother at Sixty-six is a poignant poem by Kamala Das that reflects on aging and the relationship between the poet and her mother. In this work, Das explores the emotional complexities and fears associated with the inevitability of growing older, particularly within the familial context.

---

## Knowledge Snapshot

| Field | Details |
| :--- | :--- |
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | English |
| Book | Flamingo |
| Chapter | My Mother At Sixty-six |
| Pages | 88-89 |

---

## Chapter Summary

### Short Summary
Kamala Das expresses her feelings about her aging mother during a car ride to the airport, highlighting the theme of aging and the emotional connection between them.

### Detailed Summary
The poem begins with the poet observing her mother sleeping beside her. She notes the frailty and age of her mother, compared to a corpse and the late winter’s moon, which evokes a sense of pain and realization of mortality. Despite her fear, the poet tries to mask her emotions by smiling and saying goodbye, indicating a blend of sorrow and acceptance.

---

## Topic-Wise Explanation

### About the Poet
Kamala Das, born in 1934, is one of India’s prominent poets, known for her unique voice and the ability to delve into human emotions and relationships.

### Theme of Aging
The theme of aging is central to the poem, depicting the inevitable decline in physicality and the emotional responses it triggers, especially in familial relationships.

### Imagery in the Poem
Vivid imagery is used to convey emotions, such as the comparison of her mother’s face to a corpse and a late winter’s moon, illustrating frailty and the passage of time.

### Emotional Reflection
The poet reflects on the deep-seated feelings of fear and love towards her mother, which are intertwined with the natural process of aging.

### The Poet's Parting Words
The parting words "See you soon, Amma" signify a mix of hope and sorrow, attempting to uplift the mood despite underlying anxieties about her mother's health.

### Structure of the Poem
The poem is structured as a continuous sentence, suggesting a stream of consciousness that connects fleeting thoughts and observations indicative of the poet's mindset.

---

## Core Ideas

| Idea | Explanation |
| :--- | :--- |
| Motherhood | The relationship between the poet and her mother is central to the poem, representing both tenderness and sorrow due to aging. |

---

## Key Concepts

| Concept | Meaning |
| :--- | :--- |
| Aging | The process of growing old, which the poet confronts through her observations of her mother. |

---

## Important Points for Revision

* The poet’s emotional response to her mother’s aging.
* The imagery used to express feelings of mortality.
* The significance of the mother’s comparison to the moon and a corpse.
* The continuous sentence structure reflecting thoughts about life lessons.
* The societal expectations of caring for elderly parents.

---

## Vocabulary and Glossary

| Word / Phrase | Meaning |
| :--- | :--- |
| Wan | Colorless, indicating a lack of vitality. |
| Sprinting | Refers to running quickly, used metaphorically for youthful energy in contrast to aging. |

---

## Practice Questions

### Short Answer Questions
1. What does the poet mean when she refers to her mother’s face as having the pallor of a corpse?
2. How does the poet’s observation of the environment contrast with her feelings about her mother?
3. What is implied by the poet’s repetition of the word "smile"?
4. Why does the poet keep her thoughts about her mother's fading vitality internal?
5. What does the structure of the poem reveal about the poet’s state of mind?

### Long Answer Questions
1. Discuss the use of imagery in conveying the poem's themes of aging and mortality.
2. Analyze the emotional complexity within the poet's relationship with her mother as depicted in the poem.
3. Reflect on how the poet’s choice of words impacts the overall tone and message of the poem.

---

## Related Concepts
* Family Relationships
* Mortality

---

## Source Attribution

| Field | Value |
| :--- | :--- |
| Source | Edzy |
| Reference Type | examSubjectBookChapter |
| Reference ID | 66defc5d3f8b4e9e69bdd729 |
| Canonical URL | https://www.edzy.ai/cbse-class-12-english-flamingo-my-mother-at-sixty-six |
| Markdown URL | https://www.edzy.ai/okf/chapter/cbse-class-12-english-flamingo-my-mother-at-sixty-six.md |