My Mother at Sixty-Six
My Mother at Sixty-Six 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 homes, but after the airport’s security check, standing a few yards away, I looked again at her, wan, pale as a late 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 …
My Mother at Sixty-Six On my way from my parents' place to Cochin last Friday morning, I noticed my mother sitting next to me, sleeping lightly, her mouth open, her face pale gray like that of a dead body, and I felt a sharp pain realizing she was as old as she appeared, but I quickly dismissed that idea and gazed at the young trees rushing by, the happy children pouring out of their houses, but after the airport's safety inspection, standing a few feet away, I looked back at her, weak and pale, like a winter moon, and felt that familiar pain, the fear from my childhood, but all I said was, see you soon, Mom, all I did was smile and smile and smile...