LIVING PHOTOGRAPH

THE LIVING
PHOTOGRAPH

BY JACKIE KAY

PREPARED BY:
NIK AIMAN

SMK JELAI, KUALA PILAH

STANZA 1

MEANING

My small grandmother is tall there, The word ‘there’ refers to the old
photograph

Straight-back, white broderie She is standing straight, wearing an
anglaise shirt embroidered lace blouse

Pleated skirt, flat shoes, grey bun She wears the blouse with a pleated
skirt and flat shoes. Her grey hair tied
in a bun

A kind, old smile round her eyes She is smiling kindly

IMAGES IN THE POEM

Broderie anglaise shirt with Grey bun
pleated skirt

Her big hand holds mine STANZA 1

White hand in black hand MEANING

Her sharp blue eyes look her The grandmother is seen holding the
own death in the eye poet’s hands

The poet and her grandmother are
from different races.

The grandmother is growing old and
suggests that her death is near.

STANZA 2

MEANING

It was true after all, that look It was true that the grandmother’s
death was near

My tall grandmother became small She became shorter as she got older

Her back round and hunched Her straight-back became hunched
Her soup forgot to boil She became forgetful

IMAGES IN THE POEM

From straight-back to being hunched

STANZA 2

MEANING

She went to the awful place The grandmother died. The word
grandmothers go ‘awful’ shows that the poet was sad
that the grandmother died

Somewhere unknown, unthinkable The poet did not know where the
grandmother went after she died.

STANZA 3

MEANING

But there she is still The word ‘there’ refers to a photo of
the grandmother
In the photo with me at three
A photo of the poet and her
The crinkled smile is still grandmother when she was three
living, breathing years old

The memory of the grandmother is
alive in the photograph

IMAGES IN THE POEM

THEME

• DEATH
- The poet remember when her grandmother was strong and healthy but then grew older

and died.
- The poet could only remember her grandmother through a picture when she was three

years old.
• THE POWER OF A PHOTOGRAPH
- A photograph will remain alive forever.
- The poet’s grandmother died but she would always be alive in the photograph.
- A photograph can make us appreciate our loved ones.

MORAL VALUES

• TREASURE OUR LOVED ONES WHILE THEY ARE STILL
ALIVE.

- Spend times with our loved ones before they are gone forever.
• NEVER FORGET THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY.
- We should take care of our family members even when they are old and sick.
• LIFE AND DEATH IS A JOURNEY.
- Everyone that is alive will die someday and we should cherish our moments with our
loved ones.

QUESTIONS (STANZA 1)

1. What did the grandmother wear?
= A white, broderie anglaise shirt with pleated skirt and flat shoes.

2. Which line shows the poet and the grandmother are from different races?
= White hand in black hand.

3. What does the word ‘there’ refers to?
= Photograph.

4. Why do you think the poet used the phrase ‘her sharp blue eyes…’?
= To show that the grandmother was able to see clearly when she was younger.

QUESTIONS (STANZA 2)

1. What happened to the grandmother as she became older?
= She became small with her back round and hunched.

2. Which line shows that the grandmother was senile?
= Her soup forgot to boil.

3. Which word describes something unpleasant?
= Awful.

4. Why did the poet say ‘she went to the awful place grandmothers go’?
= The grandmother died.

QUESTIONS (STANZA 3)

1. How many people were in the photograph?
= Two people.

2. How old was the poet in the photograph?
= Three years old.

3. Which word has the same meaning as wrinkle?
= Crinkled.

4. Why did the poet say the grandmother was still living and breathing in the
photograph?

= The grandmother was still alive when the photograph was taken.