Question

 Why does the poet compare her mother’s face to “a late winter’s moon”? What does this comparison suggest?

Why does the poet look outside the car after noticing her mother’s condition? What does this reveal about her feelings?

The poet smiles and says “see you soon, Amma” although she is deeply afraid. Why does she do so?

How does the image of young trees “sprinting” contrast with the poet’s mother? What idea does this contrast convey?

Why is the fear of separation from her mother still present in the poet’s mind despite being an adult?

What does the poem suggest about the relationship between ageing and the fear of losing loved ones?

Why does Pablo Neruda ask everyone to “keep still” and “not speak”? Does he mean complete inactivity? Explain.

How can keeping quiet for a moment help human beings understand themselves better?

Why does the poet want people to stop harming nature and other living beings? What larger message does this convey?

What does the poet mean by “counting up to twelve”? Why do you think he chooses this number?

How does the poem distinguish between “stillness” and “death”? Why is this distinction important?

Both poems deal with silence, but in very different ways. How is the silence in My Mother at Sixty-Six different from the silence suggested in Keeping Quiet?

“Fear of loss can make people hide their true emotions.” How is this idea reflected in My Mother at Sixty-Six?

“A moment of pause can lead to greater understanding.” How does this idea connect with Keeping Quiet?

Both Kamala Das and Pablo Neruda ask readers to look beyond ordinary appearances. Explain with reference to the two poems.