what is the poetess' feeling at the airport ?

The relationship between a mother and her child is probably the closest as well as the strongest bond ever to be forged in life. Kamala Das, as she waited in the airport, could sense that her time with her mother was limited. She knew that her mother was old and may not be there when she returned, but she pushed aside these thoughts and tried to smile. She wanted to be courageous and face the inevitable. The poet's description of bidding farewell to her mother in the airport is reminiscent of the fear of a child of losing her mother. The poet thus, tries to avoid such thoughts and think positively about her mother.