A Photograph.

By: Shirley Toulson

Think it out (Page. 12)

1. What does the word ‘cardboard’ denote in the poem? Why has this word been used?
Ans: The word ‘cardboard’ in the poem denotes the photograph that was clicked by the poet’s
mother’s uncle. This word has been used to mean lifeless cardboard having her mother’s
picture. Her mother was dead, and the cardboard was life-less.

2. What has the camera captured?

Ans: The camera has captured the childhood memory of the mother and her two cousins
when they had been for a seaside holiday. The three girls stood motionless, smiling and
holding each other’s hand as the uncle clicked the photograph.

3. What has not changed over the years? Does this suggest something to you?
Ans: The Sea has not changed over the years. It suggests that the prominent features of nature
do not change much. Human beings come and go, but nature always remains.

4. The poet’s mother laughed at the snapshot. What did this laugh indicate?
Ans: The poet’s mother laughed at the snapshot while recalling her joyful moments of her
past. She looks at the photograph and recollects her innocent joy. In the photograph she as
well as her two little cousins stood at the beach. She laughed at the way they were dressed up
for the beach.

5. What is the meaning of the line “Both wry with the labored ease of loss”.
Ans: The poetess is sad about the fact that her mother’s laughter is history. Her mother feels
the same for her childhood days. The word ‘wry’ here means disappointment. Both of them
are disappointed and dejected over their loss.

6. What does “this circumstance” refer to?

Ans: ‘This circumstance’ refers to the present situation of the poetess wherein the poetess is
absorbed in the painful memory of her dead mother.

7. The three stanzas depict three different phases. What are they?
Ans: i. The first phase depicts the happy childhood of the poet’s mother when she was 12.
ii. The second phase depicts the happy moments of the poetess with her mother at the
beach.
iii. The third phase depicts the poetess’s sadness because of her mother’s death.

Holy Faith Higher Secondary School, Harda. Poem: A Photograph. Anadhi pradhan