what do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify
The parting words and smile show the poet’s attempt to be brave and reassuring while she is actually deeply pained and afraid of losing her mother.
Context: Which poem?
This question refers to the poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six” by Kamala Das , where the poet is leaving her ageing mother at the airport and says, “See you soon, Amma,” while smiling again and again.
What the parting words signify
The poet’s words “See you soon, Amma” suggest:
- Hope and reassurance – she wants her mother to feel that this is not a final goodbye and that they will meet again.
- A promise/comfort – it is like a gentle promise meant to console her mother and keep her from feeling lonely or scared.
- Emotional strength – even though she feels intense fear inside, she chooses optimistic words to keep the moment light and cheerful.
In simple exam-style form:
Her parting words express hope, optimism, and a comforting assurance to her
mother that they will meet again, even as she struggles with the thought of
separation and her mother’s mortality.
What her smile signifies
The poet’s smile has a double meaning :
- Hiding pain and fear – she smiles to conceal her “old familiar ache,” the childhood fear of losing her mother to age and death.
- Attempt to be brave – the repeated “smile and smile and smile” shows that she is forcing herself to appear calm and cheerful.
- Love and concern – the smile is her way of giving courage to her mother, not letting her see how worried she really is.
- Helplessness – she cannot stop time or ageing, so all she can do is smile and pretend everything is normal.
Put simply:
Her smile signifies a brave mask over deep pain, fear of separation, and
helplessness, while also trying to reassure and encourage her mother.
Combined significance
Together, the parting words and the smile show:
- A bittersweet bond of deep love mixed with sorrow and anxiety about ageing and death.
- A contrast between inner reality (fear, sadness) and outer behaviour (hopeful words, smiling face).
- The poet’s struggle to accept her mother’s mortality while still trying to remain hopeful and not break down at the moment of parting.
One-line exam-ready answer
The parting words “See you soon, Amma” and the poet’s repeated smile signify her effort to hide her pain and childhood fear of losing her ageing mother, and to reassure her with hope, love, and courage at the moment of separation.
Meta description (for SEO):
Learn what the parting words of the poet and her smile signify in “My Mother
at Sixty-Six” – a powerful blend of hidden pain, fear of separation, and brave
reassurance toward her ageing mother.
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