The Living Photograph

Stanza 1
Line
My small grandmother is tall there,
straight-back, white broderie anglaise shirt ,
pleated skirt, flat shoes, grey bun,
a kind, old smile round her eyes.
Her big hand holds mine,
white hand in black hand.
Stanza 2
Meaning
The persona’s grandmother looks tall in the
photograph.
She is standing with good posture, wearing an
embroidered lace blouse.
She wears the blouse with a pleated skirt, non-
heeled shoes and her hair in a bun.
She is smiling kindly.
Her big hand is holding the persona’s hand.
The contrast of their skin colours can clearly be
seen in their linked hands.

Line Meaning
It was true after all; that look. The persona’s reference of death came true.
The grandmother became thinner and more
My tall grandmother became small.
fragile.
Her back round and hunched. Her back became hunched.
Her soup forgot to boil. She became forgetful.
She went to the awful place grandmothers go. Soon, she passed away.
Upon her death, she went to a place that no one
Somewhere unknown, unthinkable.
knows.
Stanza 3

Line Meaning
However, in the photograph, her grandmother
But there she is still,
will always be alive.
The persona was there years old in the
in the photo with me at three,
photograph with her grandmother.
the crinkled smile is still living, breathing. Her grandmother’s smile is still so alive and real.
Moral Value

1 We must treasure our loved ones when they are alive.

 We must spend as much time as we can with our loved ones while they are still living
 When they pass away, all that will be left are the memories, as is illustrated in the poem.
2 It is difficult to lose a family member.
 It is always difficult to deal with the death of a loved one.
 The persona loses her grandmother when she was younger but she will always remember
her.
3 We must never forget the importance of family relationship.
  We should not forget to love and care for our family, especially our grandparents who are
the pillars of a family.
 When they are old and sick, we must continue to take care of them.
Summary of Stanza 1
The persona is looking at an old photograph of her grandmother and herself. She describes the
photograph – her grandmother is standing tall and straight, dressed in a white embroidered lace
blouse with a pleated skirt, and flat shoes. Her grey hair is pulled neatly into a bun. She is smiling
kindly while holding the persona’s hand in hers, giving her the security and comfort. As the persona
describes their linked hands – white hand in black hand – it is clear that they come from a mixed
race family. The last line seems to suggest that the persona knows that her grandmother’s death will
come soon.
Summary of Stanza 2
While the first describes the photograph, in the second stanza, the persona is remembering her
grandmother later, when she is older and has become ill. The persona recalls how her grandmother
soon grows thinner and more fragile. Her back is hunched and she becomes forgetful as is illustrated
in the line, Her soup forgot to boil. Eventually, she passes away and upon her death, she goes to an
unimaginable place.
Summary of Stanza 3
However, in the photograph, the persona’s grandmother will forever be alive. She is still there,
holding the hand of her three-year-old granddaughter, with her smile looking so alive and real.
Themes
1 The everlasting quality of a photograph
 A photograph immortalizes a person or a moment. What is captured in a photograph will
remain alive forever.
 In the poem, the persona’s grandmother has already passed away. However, in the
photograph, she will always be healthy and alive.
 A photograph also allows us grandmother passes away to reflect on what happened in the
past and relive our memories.
2 Death
 Death is a definite outcome for all of us.
 In the poem, the persona recalls how her grandmother was once strong and healthy
but soon grows older and becomes ill.
 In the end, the grandmother passes away and the persona is only able to relive
her memories with her grandmother through a photograph.