A Photograph
Shirley Toulson
The cardboard shows me how it was
When the two girl cousins went paddling,
Each one holding one of my mother’s hands,
And she the big girl — some twelve years or so.
All three stood still to smile through their hair
At the uncle with the camera. A sweet face,
My mother’s, that was before I was born.
And the sea, which appears to have changed less,
Washed their terribly transient feet.
Some twenty — thirty — years later
She’d laugh at the snapshot. “See Betty
And Dolly,” she’d say, “and look how they
Dressed us for the beach.” The sea holiday
Was her past, mine is her laughter. Both wry
With the laboured ease of loss.
Now she’s been dead nearly as many years
As that girl lived. And of this circumstance
There is nothing to say at all.
Its silence silences.
About the Author: Shirley Toulson (1924–2018)
Shirley Toulson was a British poet, writer, and editor known for her reflective and deeply personal poetry. Born in England in 1924, she had a keen interest in literature and history. She studied English at the University of London and later worked as an editor and teacher.
Toulson’s poetry often explores themes of memory, time, and loss, with a strong sense of nostalgia. Her poem A Photograph is one of her most well-known works, in which she reflects on the passage of time and the inevitable loss of loved ones.
Apart from poetry, Toulson also wrote extensively on British history, folklore, and heritage. She was particularly interested in historical landscapes and how they shaped cultural identity.
Line-by-Line Explanation of "A Photograph" by Shirley Toulson
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Stanza 1 (The Past – A Moment Captured in the Photograph)
1. "The cardboard shows me how it was"
The word cardboard refers to the material of the photograph, suggesting an old printed picture. It sets the stage for a nostalgic recollection of the past.
2. "When the two girl cousins went paddling,"
The photograph captures the poet’s mother as a young girl, along with her two cousins, playing in shallow water at the beach.
3. "Each one holding one of my mother’s hands,"
This emphasizes the mother’s protective role, suggesting that she was slightly older and responsible for her younger cousins.
4. "And she the big girl — some twelve years or so."
The poet estimates her mother’s age in the picture, showing that she was just a child at the time.
5. "All three stood still to smile through their hair"
This describes how the wind was blowing their hair over their faces as they smiled for the camera.
6. "At the uncle with the camera."
The picture was taken by an uncle, adding a personal touch to the memory.
7. "A sweet face, my mother’s, that was before I was born."
The poet admires her mother’s innocent and joyful face in the photograph, emphasizing that this was long before her own birth.
8. "And the sea, which appears to have changed less,"
The sea, in contrast to human life, remains almost unchanged over time. This hints at the poem’s central theme of transience.
9. "Washed their terribly transient feet."
The word terribly transient suggests the fleeting nature of human life, reinforcing the idea that people come and go, but nature endures.
Stanza 2 (The Recent Past – Nostalgia and Reflection)
10. "Some twenty — thirty — years later"
The poet moves forward in time, showing how much has changed since the photograph was taken.
11. "She’d laugh at the snapshot."
The mother would look at the old photograph and laugh, reminiscing about her childhood.
12. "‘See Betty and Dolly,’ she’d say, ‘and look how they"
She fondly remembers her cousins (Betty and Dolly) and enjoys recalling the past.
13. "Dressed us for the beach.’"
The mother finds humor in the way they were dressed for the beach, indicating how fashion and perspectives change over time.
14. "The sea holiday was her past, mine is her laughter."
This is a significant line. For the mother, the beach trip was a cherished memory, but for the poet, the memory of her mother’s laughter is what remains.
15. "Both wry with the laboured ease of loss."
The word wry suggests bittersweet emotions, and laboured ease conveys that recalling the past brings both joy and sorrow, as it reminds them of what is lost.
Stanza 3 (The Present – The Finality of Loss)
16. "Now she’s been dead nearly as many years"
The poet acknowledges that her mother has been gone for a long time—almost as many years as the girl in the photograph had lived.
17. "As that girl lived."
This comparison highlights the passage of time and deepens the sense of loss.
18. "And of this circumstance there is nothing to say at all."
The poet expresses that no words can truly capture the grief of losing a loved one.
19. "Its silence silences."
The final line is powerful. The poet is rendered speechless by the overwhelming sorrow, emphasizing how grief is beyond words. The silence of death is absolute and inescapable.
A Photograph
Theme
The poem A Photograph by Shirley Toulson explores the themes of transience of life, the power of memories, nostalgia, and grief. It highlights the contrast between the permanence of nature (the sea) and the fleeting nature of human existence. The poet reflects on the passage of time, the inevitability of loss, and the silent grief that follows the death of a loved one.
Central Idea
The central idea of the poem revolves around the impermanence of life and the pain of losing someone dear. The poet recalls a photograph of her mother as a young girl, enjoying a carefree moment at the beach. Over the years, the mother’s perception of the photograph changed—from amusement to reminiscence—until she herself passed away. The poet is left with nothing but silence, signifying the depth of her grief.
Critical Analysis
Shirley Toulson masterfully crafts a poignant reflection on time and loss. The poem follows a simple yet profound structure, divided into three stanzas, each marking a different phase of time:
1. The Past – The mother’s childhood, captured in the photograph.
2. The Recent Past – The mother’s reaction to the photograph, filled with nostalgia.
3. The Present – The poet’s sorrowful silence after her mother’s passing.
The contrast between the changing human lives and the unchanging sea reinforces the theme of transience. Toulson’s use of free verse, minimal punctuation, and a melancholic tone makes the emotions feel raw and personal. The final line, "Its silence silences," is particularly powerful, encapsulating the overwhelming grief that leaves the poet speechless.
Summary
The poem begins with a description of an old photograph showing the poet’s mother as a twelve-year-old girl, enjoying a day at the beach with her cousins. The mother, then a child, was innocent and carefree, unaware of the passage of time.
Years later, the mother would look at the photograph and reminisce about the past, laughing at how they were dressed. However, as time passed, she herself grew older and eventually passed away.
Now, the poet is left with only memories of her mother, and the realization of her loss renders her speechless. The silence of death overpowers everything, leaving behind an unfillable void.
Inference from Context:
1. Paddling
In the poem, the line "When the two girl cousins went paddling," suggests that the children were at the beach, possibly playing in shallow water.
Inference: Walking or playing in shallow water, moving feet gently in water.
2. Transient
The phrase "Washed their terribly transient feet." suggests that the poet is emphasizing the temporary nature of human life, especially in contrast to the sea, which remains unchanged.
Inference: Short-lived, temporary, not lasting forever.
Dictionary Meanings:
1. Paddling (verb)
To move through water using the feet or hands, especially in a playful manner.
(Cambridge Dictionary:) "To move through water by moving your hands or feet up and down."
2. Transient (adjective)
Lasting for a short time; temporary.
(Oxford Dictionary:) "Lasting only for a short time; impermanent
Think it Out – Answers
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What does the word ‘cardboard’ denote in the poem? Why has this word been used?
- The word ‘cardboard’ refers to the material on which the old photograph is printed. It symbolizes the fragility of memories and how physical objects like photographs can preserve moments, even as time moves forward. The poet uses this word to emphasize the contrast between the permanence of the image and the transience of life.
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What has the camera captured?
- The camera has captured a joyful moment from the poet’s mother’s childhood—a beach holiday where she and her two cousins are seen paddling in the sea, holding hands, and smiling at the camera. This frozen moment reflects the innocence and happiness of youth, now long gone.
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What has not changed over the years? Does this suggest something to you?
- The sea has not changed over the years, while the people in the photograph have grown older and, in the case of the poet’s mother, passed away. This contrast suggests the permanence of nature versus the fleeting nature of human life. It highlights how time moves forward, affecting humans but leaving the natural world seemingly unchanged.
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The poet’s mother laughed at the snapshot. What did this laugh indicate?
- Her laugh was filled with nostalgia, amusement, and a touch of sadness. She found the old-fashioned beach attire humorous, but at the same time, she was reminiscing about a time that could never return. This laughter reflects the bittersweet nature of memories—they bring joy but also remind us of what is lost.
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What is the meaning of the line “Both wry with the laboured ease of loss.”?
- This line means that both the mother’s memory of the beach holiday and the poet’s memory of her mother’s laughter are tinged with sadness. The phrase “laboured ease of loss” suggests that recalling the past brings both comfort and pain. The word “wry” implies a bittersweet realization that time has taken away those moments forever.
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What does “this circumstance” refer to?
- “This circumstance” refers to the death of the poet’s mother. The poet acknowledges that her mother has been gone for nearly as many years as she had lived in her youth. The phrase conveys the finality of death, leading to a silence so profound that it leaves the poet speechless.
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The three stanzas depict three different phases. What are they?
- First stanza: The past – A childhood moment of the poet’s mother at the beach, full of innocence and joy.
- Second stanza: The recent past – The mother reminiscing about the photograph, laughing at her memories.
- Third stanza: The present – The poet reflecting on her mother’s death, experiencing the silent pain of loss.
Poetic Devices in "A Photograph" by Shirley Toulson
The poem is rich in literary devices that enhance its emotional depth and meaning. Here are the key poetic devices used:
1. Alliteration (Repetition of Initial Consonant Sounds)
- "stood still to smile" (Repetition of the 's' sound)
- "terribly transient" (Repetition of the 't' sound)
- "silence silences" (Repetition of the 's' sound)
- This device adds musicality and emphasis to the lines.
2. Imagery (Descriptive Language Appealing to the Senses)
- "Each one holding one of my mother’s hands" → Creates a visual image of the young girl holding hands with her cousins.
- "The sea, which appears to have changed less, washed their terribly transient feet." → Evokes a strong contrast between the eternal nature of the sea and the fleeting nature of human life.
3. Contrast (Juxtaposition of Opposites for Emphasis)
- "The sea, which appears to have changed less, washed their terribly transient feet."
- The permanence of the sea contrasts with the fleeting nature of human life.
- "The sea holiday was her past, mine is her laughter."
- The mother’s joyful past is contrasted with the poet’s memory of her mother’s laughter, which now represents loss.
4. Oxymoron (Contradictory Terms Placed Together for Effect)
- "laboured ease of loss"
- The words "laboured" (hard, difficult) and "ease" (comfort, simplicity) are opposites, indicating the painful yet inevitable process of accepting loss.
5. Personification (Attributing Human Qualities to Non-Human Things)
- "The sea, which appears to have changed less."
- The sea is personified as something constant and unchanging, while human life is transient.
- "Its silence silences."
- Silence is given an active quality, emphasizing the overwhelming and speechless grief of the poet.
6. Enjambment (Continuation of a Sentence Beyond a Line Without a Pause)
- "The sea, which appears to have changed less,
Washed their terribly transient feet." - "Both wry
With the laboured ease of loss."- This technique creates a natural flow, mimicking the continuous passage of time and thoughts.
7. Metaphor (Indirect Comparison Without Using 'Like' or 'As')
- "A photograph" → The photograph is a metaphor for frozen memories and the passage of time.
- "Terribly transient feet" → The feet symbolize human life, which is temporary and fleeting compared to the eternal sea.
8. Symbolism (Use of Objects or Concepts to Represent Deeper Meanings)
- The Photograph → Represents nostalgia, lost moments, and the poet’s connection to her mother’s past.
- The Sea → Symbolizes permanence, eternity, and the contrast between nature and human mortality.
- Silence → Represents the finality of death and the deep emotional void it leaves behind.