My Mother at Sixty- Six Summary – CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo

✍️ Written By Arushi Kaul
🗓️ Publish on August 29, 2024

CBSE Class 12 English Textbook – Flamingo includes a poetry titled “My Mother at Sixty-six.” My Mother at Sixty-six by Indian writer Kamala Das explores the complexities of human relationships, often focusing on overlooked everyday moments with vivid imagery. This poem captures a poignant moment between a daughter and her aging mother as the daughter says goodbye, feeling deep sadness and fear, knowing she might not see her mother again. It beautifully expresses the emotions of parting and the inevitable passage of time.
Here, we provide a brief summary of the prose- My Mother at Sixty-six.

CBSE Class 12 English My Mother at Sixty-six Summary

Aging is a natural part of life, and no one can control it. We often have close relationships with people older than us, especially our parents. Even though we love our parents and wish they could stay with us forever, nature doesn’t follow our wishes. Our parents grow old and need our care and support. It can be hard to watch them lose their youth over time, like trying to hold onto sand slipping through our fingers – no matter how hard we try, we can’t keep it forever.

In the poem “My Mother at Sixty-six,” Kamala Das explores the deep bond between a mother and daughter. Her mother is aging, and the thought of losing her is unbearable. The poem captures the emotions the daughter feels as she rides to the airport with her mother, knowing she has to leave her behind.

The poet describes a car ride to Cochin from her parents’ house. Her mother, sitting beside her, had dozed off. As the poet looked at her mother, she realized how much she had aged. Her mother no longer had the youthful energy she once did—she slept with her mouth open, and her face looked pale and lifeless. The poet described her face as “ashen,” which suggests the look of someone after death, a reminder of life’s end.

This thought deeply troubled the poet, so she looked out the window to distract herself. What she saw outside was a stark contrast to her thoughts. The world outside was full of life and energy. Young trees on the roadside seemed to race past as the car moved. The poet also saw children running out of their houses to play, full of joy and excitement. Their happiness and energy were the complete opposite of what she felt when she looked at her aging mother.

At the airport, after the security check, the poet noticed her mother’s pale and colorless face, comparing it to a faint winter’s moon. This reminded her of a childhood fear of losing her mother, and the moment of parting filled her with sadness and helplessness, knowing her mother was nearing the end of her life. Despite the deep pain and fear, she held back her emotions and smiled as she waved goodbye, using the word “smile” to show how hard she tried to hide her pain and put on a brave face for her mother.

The poem ends with a sense of sad acceptance. The poet realizes that no matter how much she worries about her mother aging and eventually passing away, life continues. It’s the natural order of things, and she understands that this is how life is meant to be.

Conclusion of My Mother at Sixty-six

The conclusion of the poem “My Mother at Sixty-six” reflects the poet’s acceptance of the inevitable passage of time and the reality of aging. Despite the deep pain and fear of losing her mother, the poet comes to terms with the fact that life must go on, and this cycle of life and death is a natural part of existence. The poem ends on a note of quiet resignation, with the poet acknowledging that while she cannot stop her mother from aging or prevent the eventual separation, she can still cherish the moments they have together. This bittersweet acceptance of life’s impermanence is what gives the poem its emotional depth and universal appeal.

We trust that this summary of the CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo Poetry, “My Mother at Sixty-six,” has provided you with a quick grasp of the poem. Stay connected with GK Publications for the latest updates on CBSE and study materials. Explore sample papers and question papers from various years to enhance your preparation for the Board exams.