The Living Photograph

Meaning and
Context

Live
living
The old man is living in
that house for 50 years.
Mr. Raju is a living
example of a patient
man.

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 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 is still,
in the photo with me at three,
the crinkled smile is still living, breathing.

Rule No.
8

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 death in
the eye.

Rule No.
It was true after all; that look. 8

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 is still,
in the photo with me at three,
the crinkled smile is still living, breathing.

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 is still,
in the photo with me at three,
the crinkled smile is still living, breathing.

Stanza 1
My small grandmother is tall there,
The personas grandmother looks tall in the
photograph.
straight-back, white broderie anglaise shirt,
She is standing with good posture, wearing an
embroidered lace blouse.
pleated skirt, flat shoes, grey bun,
She wears the blouse with a pleated skirt, nonheeled shoes and her hair in a bun.
a kind, old smile round her eyes.
She is smiling kindly.
Her big hand holds mine,
Her big hand is holding the personas hand.

white hand in black hand.

The contrast of their skin colours can
clearly be seen in their linked hands.
Her sharp blue eyes look her death in
the eye.
Her grandmothers blue eyes are
sharp and she looks well but it is
suggested that her death is near.

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 personas 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
while her grandmother looks well, the persona
knows that her death will come soon.

It was true after all; that look.

The personas reference of death came true.
My tall grandmother became small.
The grandmother became thinner and more
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.
Somewhere unknown, unthinkable.
Upon her death, she went to a place that no

While the first stanza 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.

But there is still,

However, in the photograph, her
grandmother will always be alive.
in the photo with me at three,
She is in the photograph with the
persona at three years old.
the crinkled smile is still living,
breathing.
Her grandmothers smile is still so
alive and real.

However, in the photograph, the

personas 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

1. The everlasting quality if a photograph.

A photograph immortalises a person or a
moment. What is captured in a
photograph will remain alive forever.
In the poem, the personas grandmother
has already passed away. However , in
the photograph , she will always be
healthy and alive.
A photograph also allows us to reflect on
what happened in the past and relive our

1. 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 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
relationships.
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.

However, in the photograph, her

grandmother will always be alive and
well. The photograph does not show
her becoming gradually older and
weaker or acknowledge that she has
passed away. It will always show her
as a strong and healthy woman,
holding the hand of her young
grandchild. To the persona, the
photograph represents how her
grandmother will always be alive in
her memories.