My Mother at Sixty six
by - kamla das
Driving from my parent's home to cochin last Friday morning , I saw my mother , beside me,
doze, open mouthed , her face ashen like that
of a corpse and Realised with pain
that she was as old as she looked but soon
put that thought away , and looked out at young
trees sprinting , the merry children spilling out of their home , but after the airport's security check , standing a few yards
away , I looked again at her , wan , pale
as a later winter's moon and felt that old
familiar ache , my childhood's fear , but all I said was , see you soon, amma
all I did was smile and smile and smile.....
about the poet
Kamala das (1934) was born in malabar , kerala , she is Recognised as one of India's foremost poets .
Her works are known for their originality , versatility and the indigenous flavour of the soil . kamala das has published many novels and short stories in English and Malayalam under the name 'Madhavikutty ' . some of her works in English includes the novels Alphabet of lust (1977), a collection of short stories padmavati the harlot and other stories (1992), in addition to five books of poetry . she is a senseitive writer who capture the complex subtleties of human relationship in lyrical idiom . My mother at sixty six is an example .
by - kamla das
Driving from my parent's home to cochin last Friday morning , I saw my mother , beside me,
doze, open mouthed , her face ashen like that
of a corpse and Realised with pain
that she was as old as she looked but soon
put that thought away , and looked out at young
trees sprinting , the merry children spilling out of their home , but after the airport's security check , standing a few yards
away , I looked again at her , wan , pale
as a later winter's moon and felt that old
familiar ache , my childhood's fear , but all I said was , see you soon, amma
all I did was smile and smile and smile.....
about the poet
Kamala das (1934) was born in malabar , kerala , she is Recognised as one of India's foremost poets .
Her works are known for their originality , versatility and the indigenous flavour of the soil . kamala das has published many novels and short stories in English and Malayalam under the name 'Madhavikutty ' . some of her works in English includes the novels Alphabet of lust (1977), a collection of short stories padmavati the harlot and other stories (1992), in addition to five books of poetry . she is a senseitive writer who capture the complex subtleties of human relationship in lyrical idiom . My mother at sixty six is an example .
