The poet sees her mother dozing in the car with an ashen, corpse-like face, realizing how old she has become. She tries to push this painful thought away by looking at young, sprinting trees and merry children playing, which symbolize youth and vitality. Later at the airport, the poet looks at her mother again, now appearing wan and pale like a late winter's moon, bringing back the familiar ache of her childhood fears. Though feeling this pain, the poet only smiles and says "see you soon" to her mother, not sharing her true thoughts.