THE LIVING PHOTOGRAPH (by Jackie Kay)

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.

Her sharp blue eyes look her own death in the eye.

It was true after all; that look.

My tall grandmother became small.

Her back round and hunched.

Her soup forgot to boil.

She went to the awful place grandmothers go.

Somewhere unknown, unthinkable.

But there she is still,

in the photo with me at three,

the crinkled smile is still living, breathing

Line
1 My small grandmother is tall there,
2 straight-back, white broderie
anglaise shirt ,
3 pleated skirt, flat shoes, grey bun,
4 a kind, old smile round her eyes.
5 Her big hand holds mine,
6 white hand in black hand.
7 Her sharp blue eyes look her death
in the eye.
STANZA 1
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.
Her grandmother’s blue eyes suggests that her death is near.

Line
8 It was true after all; that look.
9 My tall grandmother became small.
10 Her back round and hunched.
11 Her soup forgot to boil.
12 She went to the awful place
grandmothers go.
13 Somewhere unknown, unthinkable.
STANZA 2
Meaning
The persona’s reference of death came true.
The grandmother became thinner and more fragile.
Her back became hunched.
She became forgetful.
Soon, she passed away.
Upon her death, she went to a place that no one knows.

STANZA 3
Line Meaning
14 But there she is still, However, in the photograph, her grandmother will always be alive.

15 in the photo with me at three, The persona was there years old in the photograph with her
grandmother.
16 the crinkled smile is still living, Her grandmother’s smile is still so alive and real.
breathing.

SUMMARY
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.
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.
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.

THEME
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.
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.
 MORAL VALUES
We must treasure our loved ones when
they are alive.
It is difficult to lose a family member.
We must never forget the importance of
family relationship.
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.
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.
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.