irony in my mother at sixty  six
 

Human relationships are difficult to understand because of their sheer complexities. As soon as we are born, there is a desire to grow up. But growing up is also heading towards old age which is fearful because of approaching death. There is a persistent fear of losing loved ones to death. Aging is a reminder of death, which terminates all relationships. This fear is felt by the poet but she turns her face away as if to just avoid it  until it actually arrives. She knows that the death is the ultimate stage of life and yet she cannot think of it because it is not easy to let go your loved ones.