The poem describes a photograph of the speaker's grandmother holding her hand as a young child. In the photo, the grandmother appears tall, strong and smiling. However, the speaker recalls her grandmother growing old and frail, with a hunched back, forgetfulness, and eventually passing away. But in the photo, the grandmother remains alive, with her smile still living and breathing as she holds the speaker's hand. The photograph allows the speaker to remember her grandmother from happier times and preserve her alive forever through the image.

1. The Living Photograph
by Jackie Kay

2. 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.
Stanza 1

3. 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.
Stanza 2

4. But there she is still,
in the photo with me at three,
the crinkled smile is still living, breathing.
Stanza 3

5. 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 1
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6. 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 2

7. 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.
Summary of Stanza 3

8. The everlasting quality of 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.
Themes

9. 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.
Themes

10. 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.
Moral Value

11. 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.
Moral Value

12. 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.
Moral Value