Class 12, My mother at sixty six

 

My mother at sixty six:

1.     What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?

Ans- The poet feels the old fear which she experienced it in her childhood. When she saw her mother pale face she knew that her end is near and she feels the exact pain and ache of separation which she felt it when she was a child. She notices that her mother is ageing and time spares none and time won’t spare her mother too. With the ageing separation and death also approaches. She fears of losing her mother and that emotional pain and ache the poet feels.

2.     Why are the young trees described as sprinting?

Ans- Generally sprinting means running over a short distance at the top most speed. Here the tress are described as springing because of the fast moving car and tress outside seemed as if the tress are passing backward really in speed. The poet her also compares the fast moving young tress and her mother who was dozing, which shows her mother was get old and weak. The poet presents a contrast - her 'dozing' old mother and the 'sprinting' young trees.

3.     Why has the poet bought in the image of the merry children spilling out of their homes?

Ans- The poet was driving with her mother. When she looked outside she noticed the 'merry children spilling out of their homes' which symbolizes happiness and spontaneous overflow of energy in life.

    The poet bought out the image of merry children spilling out of their homes to highlight the helplessness and old aging time of her mother, she dozes off with her mouth open, whereas the children signifies the energy, colour and strength and fun they have which her mother completely lacks now.  

4.     Why has the mother been compared to the late winter moon?

Ans- The late winter moon lacks luster. The mothers face was pale and withered. Moreover, the winter moon suggests the end of season and mother too is nearing the end of her life, therefore the poet compares her mother with the late winter moon because of the ageing face which is shrunken looks like that of a corpse, similar to the winter moon which looks obscure and hazy. 

5.     What does the poet’s parting words to her mother signify?

Ans- By the parting words the poet tries to hide her fear of separation from her mother. The smile of the poet shows the positive attitude and assures herself and her mother to meet again.