Question

What poetic devices have been used by Kamala Das in my mother at sixty-six?

Answer 1

Hint: The poem "My Mother at Sixty-Six" is about the poet's love connection with her mother when she was sixty-six years old. The story focuses around the author's mother, who is becoming older and worried about losing touch with her daughter. It portrays the tenderness of a mother-daughter bond to perfection.

Complete answer:
The poet was travelling to the Cochin airport from her parents' house last Friday morning. At supper, her mother sat across from her. At the time, she was 66 years old. The old woman was fast asleep. Her mouth was still open. Her face was wrinkled and her skin was pallid. The colour was an ashy grey. It appeared to be lifeless, almost like a corpse. When she saw her mother's lifeless and withering visage, her heart wrenched. The old woman appeared to be deep in meditation. The poet's gaze turned away from her mother and toward the window.

The poetic devices used in the poem are:
'My mother at Sixty-Six' is a poem rich in imagery, contrast, and analogy. Her face is described as 'ashen,' as if it belonged to a corpse. Her pale visage reminds her of a late-winter moon.” The snoozing mother is juxtaposed among racing young trees and youngsters pouring from their dwellings. As a result, there is a good mix of activity, life, deterioration, and enjoyment.

On two occasions in this poem, the author employs the simile method. When she compares her mother's visage to that of a corpse, she also uses the term "like" to describe it. She compares her mother to the moon in the wintertime once more, using the term "as" in the process.

Personification: Young trees running - the rapid movement of the trees symbolises youth, life, and the passing of time. The mother is in the car, dead and helpless as she ages. Fear of separation—that childhood fear—of losing one's loved ones—fear of death—her innate knowledge leads to the familiar ache—painful realisation of powerlessness (cannot express her concerns with her mother—fear originated from unknown—didn't want to bother her)—fear of death.

Note: My Mother at Sixty-six is about growing older and the fear of loss and separation. As she watches her mother's condition deteriorate, the poetess is devastated and feels the agony of separation as she considers her mother's death. She pines for her mother's youth and beauty, which she thinks she has lost.