Blood by Kamala Das — Notes, Explanations, Analysis, Themes, and Q&A
Summary of Blood by Kamala Das
The poem Blood by Kamala Das is a touching story about family, memory, and loss. The poet remembers her childhood days with her brother, playing on the sands near their old ancestral house. Their great-grandmother often spoke to them about the house, which was three hundred years old and falling apart. She loved it deeply and felt sad watching it decay with time.
As a child, the poet promised to rebuild the house when she grew rich. Her great-grandmother, a simple and religious woman, smiled at her innocence. The old lady often told stories about her rich past — how she rode an elephant to the temple, her precious jewels, fine clothes, and her short-lived marriage to a prince who died young. She proudly said their family had the “oldest blood,” pure and refined, unlike the blood of the poor or the newly rich.
Years later, the great-grandmother grew old and sick. The poet watched her die, feeling pity and sorrow. She had now learnt how hard it was to become rich. The house, too, seemed to grow weaker and sadder, as if it could feel pain. When her great-grandmother was cremated, the poet felt that even the house mourned her death — its windows closed, the walls groaned, and the rooms sighed.
The poet later left her ancestral home for other towns. Yet, she kept hearing, in her mind, the house dying slowly — eaten by rats and white ants. She feels guilty for leaving it behind. She apologises to her great-grandmother and the house, saying she might be selfish but her “blood” still carries the memory of her ancestors — their jewels, perfumes, and royal pride.
In Blood, Kamala Das beautifully expresses how memories of home and family stay alive in one’s heart, even after everything else fades away.
Line by Line Explanation of Blood by Kamala Das
When we were children / My brother and I / And always playing on the sands
/ Drawing birds and animals
The poet remembers her childhood days spent happily with her brother. They
often played on the sandy ground near their ancestral house, drawing shapes of
birds and animals.
Our great-grandmother said one day, / You see this house of ours / Now
three hundred years old, / It’s falling to little bits / Before our very
eyes
Their great-grandmother tells them that their old family house, which has
stood for three hundred years, is slowly breaking down and losing its beauty.
The walls are cracked and torn / And moistened by the rains, / The tiles
have fallen here and there / The windows whine and groan
She describes the sad condition of the house — its cracked walls, broken
tiles, and windows that make creaking sounds in the wind. The house seems to
be crying in pain.
And every night / The rats come out of the holes / And scamper past our
doors.
The house is now filled with rats that run about freely at night, showing that
it is old and neglected.
The snake-shrine is dark with weeds / And all the snake-gods in the shrine
/ Have lichen on their hoods.
Even the family shrine, once sacred, is now covered with weeds and moss. The
snake idols are no longer worshipped and have grown dull and lifeless.
O it hurts me she cried, / Wiping a reddened eye / For I love this house,
it hurts me much / To watch it die.
The great-grandmother becomes emotional. She feels deep sorrow seeing the
house fall apart because it holds her memories and love.
When I grow old, I said, / And very very rich / I shall rebuild the fallen
walls / And make new this ancient house.
The young poet, full of hope, promises to rebuild the house one day when she
becomes rich. She wants to make it beautiful again for her great-grandmother.
My great-grandmother / Touched my cheeks and smiled. / She was really
simple. / Fed on God for years / All her feasts were monotonous / For the
only dish was always God / And the rest mere condiments.
The old lady smiles kindly at the child’s innocent dream. She is deeply
religious, living a simple and spiritual life where God is her main source of
comfort and devotion.
She told us how she rode her elephant / When she was ten or eleven / Every
Monday without fail / To the Siva shrine / And back to home again
The great-grandmother shares memories of her childhood. She used to ride an
elephant to the temple every Monday to worship Lord Shiva — a symbol of her
family’s past wealth and devotion.
And, told us of the jewel box / And the brocade from the north / And the
perfumes and the oils / And the sandal for her breasts
She recalls her rich possessions — fine clothes, jewels, perfumes, and
sandalwood — all showing her royal lifestyle when she was young.
And her marriage to a prince / Who loved her deeply for a lovely short year
/ And died of fever, in her arms
She speaks about her marriage to a prince who loved her dearly but died very
young. This memory is both sweet and painful for her.
She told us / That we had the oldest blood / My brother and she and I / The
oldest blood in the world
The great-grandmother proudly says that their family comes from a noble
lineage, carrying ancient and pure blood.
A blood thin and clear and fine / While in the veins of the always poor /
And in the veins / Of the new-rich men / Flowed a blood thick as gruel / And
muddy as a ditch.
She believes their blood is pure and refined, unlike that of the poor or the
newly rich, whose blood she compares to thick, muddy liquid. This shows her
pride and class-conscious thinking.
Finally she lay dying / In her eighty sixth year / A woman wearied by
compromise / Her legs quilted with arthritis / And with only a hard cough /
For comfort
In her old age, the great-grandmother suffers from illness and pain. Life has
tired her, and she has accepted many hardships and compromises.
I looked deep into her eyes / Her poor bleary eyes / And prayed that she
would not grieve / So much about the house.
The poet, now grown, looks at her great-grandmother with love and pity. She
hopes the old lady will not worry about the house any more.
I had learnt by then / Most lessons of defeat, / Had found out that to grow
rich / Was a difficult feat.
By this time, the poet has realised that becoming rich is not easy. She feels
helpless because she cannot fulfil her childhood promise.
The house was crouching / On its elbows then, / It looked that night in the
pallid moon / So grotesque and alive.
The poet describes the house as if it were a living being, bent and broken,
looking eerie in the moonlight — half alive, half dead.
When they burnt my great grandmother / Over logs of the mango tree / I
looked once at the house / And then again and again
At her great-grandmother’s funeral, the poet keeps looking at the house again
and again, thinking of how both are connected.
For I thought I saw the windows close / Like the closing of the eyes / I
thought I heard the pillars groan / And the dark rooms heave a sigh.
She imagines the house reacting to her great-grandmother’s death — as if it
too is mourning, sighing, and closing its eyes in grief.
I set forth again / For other towns, / Left the house with the shrine / And
the sands / And the flowering shrubs / And the wide rabid mouth of the
Arabian Sea.
After her death, the poet leaves her ancestral home and moves away to live in
other towns. She leaves behind the sea, the sand, and her childhood memories.
I know the rats are running now / Across the darkened halls / They do not
fear the dead
Now, she imagines the house in her absence. It has grown worse — dark and full
of rats that no longer fear anyone.
I know the white ants have reached my home / And have raised on walls /
Strange totems of burial.
Termites are slowly eating away the house. The image of “totems of burial”
suggests death and decay spreading across its walls.
At night, in stillness, / From every town I live in / I hear the rattle of
its death / The noise of rafters creaking / And the windows’ whine.
Even far away, she feels as though she can hear her house dying — the wooden
beams creaking and the windows groaning in pain.
I have let you down / Old house, I seek forgiveness / O mother’s mother’s
mother
She feels guilty for abandoning her great-grandmother’s house and asks for
forgiveness from both the old lady and the spirit of the home.
I have plucked your soul / Like a pip from a fruit / And have flung it into
your pyre
The poet feels that by leaving, she has destroyed the soul of the house and
the family — just as one removes and throws away a fruit’s seed.
Call me callous / Call me selfish / But do not blame my blood / So thin, so
clear, so fine
She admits she may be selfish but insists that her family blood — their
lineage — remains pure and noble.
The oldest blood in the world / That remembers as it flows / All the gems
and all the gold / And all the perfumes and the oils / And the stately /
Elephant ride...
She ends the poem remembering her great-grandmother’s proud words. Her blood
carries the memories of wealth, glory, and royal heritage. Though the house is
gone, the pride of that ancient lineage still lives within her.
Critical Analysis of Blood by Kamala Das
Kamala Das’s poem Blood is a deeply emotional piece about memory, family pride, and decay. It moves between past and present, childhood innocence and adult guilt. The poem captures how time weakens not only old houses but also old beliefs and traditions.
At the surface, Blood tells the story of the poet’s bond with her great-grandmother and their ancestral home. But beneath it lies a story of loss — of family glory, faith, and belonging. The house stands as a powerful symbol. It represents the poet’s roots, her family’s history, and the decline of old ways of life in modern times. As the house falls apart, so does the strength of the family that once lived proudly in it.
The great-grandmother’s memories fill the first part of the poem with warmth and grandeur. She talks about her childhood, her jewels, perfumes, and her short-lived marriage to a prince. Her belief in “the oldest blood” shows her pride in ancestry and class. However, this pride feels outdated when seen through the eyes of the adult poet, who has learnt that life is full of struggle and that wealth does not come easily.
When the great-grandmother dies, the house seems to die too. Kamala Das uses strong images — windows closing like eyes, rooms sighing, and pillars groaning — to give life to the house and to show its deep connection with the old woman. The poet’s sense of guilt and helplessness after leaving the house reflects the pain of separation from one’s roots.
The second part of the poem is filled with regret. The poet feels haunted by the thought of her house decaying. The sound of “rafters creaking” and “windows whining” follow her wherever she goes. These lines express not only the physical ruin of the house but also her inner loss and emotional burden.
In terms of style, Kamala Das writes in simple yet powerful language. Her free verse allows her to move naturally between memory and emotion. The tone changes from nostalgic to mournful, showing the passage of time and the fading of a once-glorious past.
Through Blood, Kamala Das reminds us that heritage is not just about wealth or family name. It is about emotion, memory, and belonging. The poet’s “thin and clear” blood carries the echoes of the past, showing that no matter how far she goes, her roots remain within her.
In short, Blood is a touching poem that blends personal history with universal feeling. It tells us that while homes may crumble and traditions may fade, the memories and emotions linked with them continue to flow — like blood — through generations.
Themes in the Poem Blood by Kamala Das
The poem Blood by Kamala Das centres on the theme of family heritage, decay, and the passage of time. It captures how memories of one’s home and ancestors continue to live in the heart, even when the physical world around them falls apart.
One major theme in the poem is the decline of the old order. The great-grandmother represents a glorious past — a time of wealth, faith, and family pride. She believes in the purity of her “oldest blood” and takes pride in her noble ancestry. But the poet, now grown up, realises that such pride has little place in the modern world, where old traditions fade and money rules life.
Another strong theme is the bond between home and identity. The ancestral house symbolises roots, belonging, and continuity. As it weakens and decays, it mirrors the fading connection between generations. The poet’s guilt for leaving the house shows how deeply people are tied to their origins, no matter how far they move in life.
The poem also deals with loss and guilt. The poet feels she has failed her great-grandmother and her home by not restoring them. The sounds of the dying house — the “rafters creaking” and “windows whining” — haunt her like memories that cannot be forgotten.
Lastly, Blood touches on memory and inheritance. The poet carries her family’s legacy within her — “the oldest blood in the world.” Though time has taken away the wealth and grandeur, the memory of love, pride, and belonging still flows through her veins.
In simple words, the theme of Blood is the struggle between past and present — between the love for one’s roots and the realities of a changing world. Kamala Das shows that even when homes crumble and people die, their spirit and memory continue to live within us.
Questions and Answers of Blood by Kamala Das
Responding to the Poem
1. What makes the depiction of a crumbling village house so authentic in
the poem? Is this a common feature of most village houses in the context of
rapid urbanisation? Is the poet speaking from actual experience?
(Long answer type – 160–180 words)
The description of the old house in Blood feels real because Kamala
Das draws from her own memories of her ancestral home in Kerala. The details —
cracked walls, broken tiles, creaking windows, and rats running in the dark —
are all drawn from the sights and sounds of real village homes that are left
uncared for. Such houses, often centuries old, lose their strength over time
when families move away in search of better lives in cities. This decay
reflects the broader change in Indian society during urbanisation, where the
younger generation leaves the villages behind, breaking ties with their roots.
The poet’s emotional link with the house and her great-grandmother adds truth
and depth to the description. Her sorrow at the house’s decay and her guilt
for not saving it come from real feelings. So yes, the poet speaks from
personal experience, blending her memories with the story of decline that many
families in India have witnessed.
2. What aspects of Indian society and history get highlighted in the
poem?
(Short answer type – 50–60 words)
The poem highlights India’s fading traditions, family pride, and class
differences. It reflects a time when families were proud of their ancestry,
wealth, and religious customs. Through the great-grandmother’s stories of
elephants, jewels, and temple visits, Kamala Das shows the shift from old
aristocratic life to modern struggles, where wealth and values are slowly
disappearing.
3. Does the poem bring out the contrast between tradition and modernity?
Illustrate your answer with examples from the poem.
(Long answer type – 160–180 words)
Yes, Blood clearly shows the clash between tradition and modernity.
The great-grandmother stands for the traditional world — she believes in her
noble blood, family pride, and religious devotion. Her stories about riding an
elephant to the temple, wearing fine clothes, and marrying a prince show the
grandeur of the past. In contrast, the poet represents the new generation,
which lives in a changing world where such traditions no longer hold the same
value. She realises that wealth is hard to earn and that old beliefs cannot
rebuild a house or a family’s lost glory. When she says she has “learnt most
lessons of defeat,” it shows her acceptance of modern reality. The house
itself becomes a symbol of this conflict — once full of life and faith, now
falling apart as time moves on. The poet’s regret and helplessness reflect the
emotional gap between generations, between the rich traditions of the past and
the harsh truth of the present.
4. While the poet respected her grandmother’s sentiments of royal grandeur,
we can also see that she revolts against it. Identify the lines which bring
this out.
(Short answer type – 50–60 words)
The poet’s revolt is seen in the lines:
“I had learnt by then / Most lessons of defeat, / Had found out that to grow
rich / Was a difficult feat.”
Here, Kamala Das accepts the truth of her ordinary life and rejects her
great-grandmother’s pride in noble birth and wealth, choosing realism over
inherited grandeur.
5. Which lines reveal the poet’s criticism of class distinctions?
(Very short answer type – 30–40 words)
The lines —
“While in the veins of the always poor / And in the veins / Of the new-rich
men / Flowed a blood thick as gruel / And muddy as a ditch.”
These lines show the poet mocking class pride and the belief in “pure” or
“noble” blood.
6. Is it ‘selfishness’ and ‘callousness’ that makes the poet break her
childhood promise to her grandmother of renovating the house? Why does she
do nothing about rebuilding the house?
(Long answer type – 160–180 words)
The poet’s failure to rebuild the house does not come from selfishness but
from helplessness. As a child, she had promised to make the house new again
when she grew rich. But with age, she learns that becoming rich is difficult
and that life rarely fulfils such dreams. She feels guilty and ashamed for not
keeping her word. Her words — “Call me callous / Call me selfish / But do not
blame my blood” — show her inner pain and regret. She understands that time,
poverty, and changing circumstances have made it impossible to save the house.
The decaying house becomes a symbol of her broken promise and the loss of
connection between generations. She still carries the memory and love of the
house in her heart, which proves she is not truly selfish. Her silence and
guilt show that she values her roots deeply, but like many in the modern
world, she cannot return to rebuild what has already been lost.
Important Questions with Answers from Blood by Kamala Das
1. What is the central idea of the poem Blood?
(Long answer type – 160–180 words)
The central idea of Blood revolves around the bond between family,
ancestry, and the passage of time. Kamala Das recalls her childhood memories
of her great-grandmother and their old ancestral house, which symbolises
heritage and belonging. The poem moves from pride in noble lineage to the pain
of decay and loss. The great-grandmother represents the old generation with
faith in family pride, while the poet stands for the modern age that faces
disillusionment and change. The house, once full of life, now lies broken and
lifeless — much like the family’s fading glory. Through vivid images of the
crumbling home, the poet expresses guilt for leaving her roots behind. Yet,
she realises that even though the house may fall apart, its spirit lives
within her blood — “thin, clear, and fine.” Thus, the poem becomes a
reflection on time, loss, and the lasting link between generations.
2. What does the old house symbolise in the poem?
(Short answer type – 50–60 words)
The old house symbolises the poet’s family roots, traditions, and memories.
Its slow decay represents the decline of the family’s past glory and the loss
of emotional connection among generations. For Kamala Das, the house also
mirrors the inner collapse of values as modern life moves away from the warmth
and simplicity of ancestral ties.
3. What kind of woman was the poet’s great-grandmother?
(Short answer type – 50–60 words)
The great-grandmother was a simple, religious, and proud woman. She lived in
memories of her wealthy past — her jewels, perfumes, and temple visits. She
loved her house deeply and believed her family had “the oldest blood.” Her
faith and pride made her strong, yet her sorrow over the dying house showed
her tender heart.
4. What role does the ancestral house play in shaping the poet’s
emotions?
(Long answer type – 160–180 words)
The ancestral house is the heart of the poem and shapes the poet’s feelings of
love, loss, and guilt. As a child, Kamala Das saw the house as a place of
comfort, tradition, and pride. Her great-grandmother’s stories filled it with
memories of faith and royal charm. But as time passed, she saw the house
crumble — its cracked walls, broken tiles, and rats running freely. The ruin
of the house mirrors the decay of family bonds and fading traditions. When her
great-grandmother dies, the house seems to mourn with her, sighing and
groaning as if alive. Even after leaving the place, the poet feels haunted by
its image and sounds. She hears its rafters creak and windows whine, reminding
her of her unfulfilled promise to rebuild it. Thus, the house becomes a symbol
of her emotional burden — the longing for her past and the pain of losing a
part of herself.
5. What does the poet mean by “the oldest blood in the world”?
(Very short answer type – 30–40 words)
“The oldest blood in the world” refers to the poet’s pride in her family
lineage. It shows the great-grandmother’s belief that their ancestry was pure,
noble, and superior, though the poet later questions this class pride.
6. What contrast does the poem draw between the old and the new
generation?
(Short answer type – 50–60 words)
The old generation, represented by the great-grandmother, lives in faith,
pride, and memories of the past. The new generation, represented by the poet,
faces struggle, loss, and disillusionment. The poet learns that dreams of
wealth and grandeur are hard to achieve and that the past’s comfort cannot
survive in the modern world.
7. What emotions does the poet feel after her great-grandmother’s
death?
(Short answer type – 50–60 words)
After her great-grandmother’s death, the poet feels deep sorrow, guilt, and
emptiness. She imagines the house mourning along with her. The closing windows
and groaning pillars seem to echo the pain of loss. The poet realises that
both the house and her great-grandmother were parts of her own identity.
8. Why does the poet call herself “callous” and “selfish”?
(Very short answer type – 30–40 words)
The poet calls herself “callous” and “selfish” because she failed to keep her
childhood promise to rebuild the ancestral house. She feels guilty for letting
her heritage decay but also helpless against time and change.
9. How does Kamala Das use imagery in the poem to express decay and
loss?
(Short answer type – 50–60 words)
Kamala Das uses strong visual and sound imagery to show decay — cracked walls,
creaking windows, rats, and white ants. These images make the house seem alive
yet dying. The burning pyre, groaning pillars, and sighing rooms deepen the
mood of loss, turning the house into a living symbol of fading heritage.
10. What message does Kamala Das convey through Blood?
(Long answer type – 160–180 words)
Through Blood, Kamala Das conveys that time destroys everything
physical, but memories and emotions continue to live within us. The poem
reminds us of our deep connection to our family and origins. The poet
expresses guilt for moving away from her ancestral home but also accepts that
change is inevitable. Her words suggest that true inheritance is not wealth or
property, but the feelings and memories that flow in our blood. The title
Blood itself stands for continuity — how love, pride, and remembrance
pass from one generation to another. The poem also warns against blind pride
in ancestry and class. By contrasting her great-grandmother’s royal pride with
her own modern struggles, Kamala Das shows that what truly matters is
emotional strength, not social status. In the end, Blood becomes a
quiet reflection on love, memory, and the unbroken bond between the living and
the dead — between past and present.
