Question

My Mother at Sixty-Six

Hint:

This poem blends personal emotion with the universal theme of human mortality.

Answer 1

The central idea of Kamala Das’s poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six” is the theme of aging and the fear of separation. The poetess expresses her pain at seeing her mother grow old and pale, reminding her of death’s inevitability. Yet, instead of expressing grief, she chooses to smile, symbolizing courage, hope, and acceptance of life’s harsh truth.