Stanza 1

Line Meaning
The persona’s grandmother looks tall in the
1 My small grandmother is tall there,
photograph.
She is standing with good posture, wearing an
2 straight-back, white broderie anglaise shirt ,
embroidered lace blouse.
She wears the blouse with a pleated skirt, non-
3 pleated skirt, flat shoes, grey bun,
heeled shoes and her hair in a bun.
4 a kind, old smile round her eyes. She is smiling kindly.
5 Her big hand holds mine, Her big hand is holding the persona’s hand.
The contrast of their skin colours can clearly
6 white hand in black hand.
be seen in their linked hands.
7 Her sharp blue eyes look her death in the Her grandmother’s blue eyes suggests that her
eye. death is near.
Stanza 2
Line Meaning
8 It was true after all; that look. The persona’s reference of death came true.
The grandmother became thinner and more
9 My tall grandmother became small.
fragile.
10 Her back round and hunched. Her back became hunched.
11 Her soup forgot to boil. She became forgetful.
12 She went to the awful place grandmothers
Soon, she passed away.
go.
Upon her death, she went to a place that no
13 Somewhere unknown, unthinkable.
one knows.
Stanza 3
Line Meaning
However, in the photograph, her grandmother
14 But there she is still,
will always be alive.
The persona was there years old in the
15 in the photo with me at three,
photograph with her grandmother.
Her grandmother’s smile is still so alive and
16 the crinkled smile is still living, breathing.
real.