This vision trembles on the eyes like the mirroring surface of water. There was nothing the family could do to stop this death. Examples of alliteration in this poem are ‘stood still to smile’, ‘terribly transient’, ‘Its silence silences’ etc. Perhaps she was going through a midlife crisis. It is clear that her mother used to share her innermost thoughts with the poet. And the sea, which appears to have changed less, Mother would look at the photograph and comment on the dresses worn by the cousins Dolly, Betty and herself. Ay, man is manly. terribly – extremely These moments especially occur when we are experiencing some anxiety about the future, or when we have lost a loved one. In this poem, the poet uses the device of personification in the 19th line when she gives ‘silence’ the ability to stop the poet from speaking. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The photograph revives a nostalgic feeling in the poet. It is a mirror that reflects Companionship and cheer. However, she is unable to vocalize what effect her mother’s death has had on her own. About the Author. ease – comfort. In the third stage, the poet remembers the dead mother with a heavy heart. Poetry 180. This makes her realize that life is short, and hence, we must cherish every moment we get to spend with our loved ones. And she the big girl — some twelve years or so.”, Word Meanings: It is for certain that all readers have moments at which they can just get lost in memories of the past. She had realized that life is very short, and that she should enjoy every moment as much as she had enjoyed such visits to the beach when she was a little girl. Their arrangement within the photograph itself with the tallest and oldest girl in the middle and the two shorter and younger ones at the side was also meticulously planned. It was a favourite photograph of her mother’s, and her mother often used to reminisce about the day when it was taken. by James Metcalfe. What inspired me to write this poem was my brother. Learncram.com has provided A Photograph questions and answers pdf, extract questions, important questions, short summary of the poem A Photograph, theme, figures of speech, central idea, poetic devices, reference to context, A Photograph class 11 summary in Hindi, critical appreciation analysis, poem ka meaning in Hindi, poem analysis, line by line explanation, explanation stanza by stanza. At the uncle with the camera. She only says that it has left her speechless. The photograph was taken when the poet’s mother was twelve years old, and on a day when she had gone to the beach with her cousins. OK now. And of this circumstance ‘War Photographer’ by Carol Ann Duffy begins in a very private setting, which is “In his darkroom,” which means a place of peace and tranquility. Source: Monologue of a Dog (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2005) More About this Poem. Brevity of life: The poet’s mother had been twelve years old when the picture was taken. It was taken some time ago At first it seems to be a smeared print: blurred lines and grey flecks blended with the paper; then, as you scan it, you can see something in the left-hand corner a thing that is like a branch: part of a tree (balsam or spruce) emerging and, to the right, halfway up what ought to be a gentle slope, a small frame house. Of happy times and pleasant things. transient – temporary, lasting only for a short time. But when it comes to loved ones, the photograph in the heart is the most endearing of all. great passion for writing and was greatly influenced by her father who was a writer However new or old. Laboured meaning with ‘great difficulty’ and ease means ‘comfortably’. That certainly seems to be the case going by this poem. 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 Each is still complete, with a particular face and blood well hidden. Its predominant mood is one of nostalgia. As that girl lived. She’d laugh at the snapshot. She misses the sound of her mother’s voice, and her loving words as well. “See Betty smile through – smiling faces could be seen through their hair which was flying over their faces I am in the lake, ... Christmas Poems Love Poems Baby Poems Death Poems Sad Poems Birthday Poems Wedding Poems Nature Poems Sorry Poems Hero Poems Poetry E-Books. The poet has had a very difficult time dealing with her mother’s death. At the very end of the poem, she becomes silent as she cannot vocalize how sad her mother’s death has made her. Even years after being written, they still seem warm from her lips, and it is this residue of her telling them that draws you into their confidence. Oxymoron: In this literary device, there are two opposite ideas that are joined to create an effect. The poem describes three stages in the passage of time. We are all aware of this theoretically. Synecdoche: This rhetorical device is used in many ways to represent one thing with the help of an entirely different one. The words ‘laboured’ and ‘ease’ are opposite to each other, but describe the same entity, loss. NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 1 A Photograph (Poem) solved by subject experts at LearnCBSE.in as per NCERT (CBSE) Book guidelines. Perhaps she had been very close to her mother. still – without moving or shaking Question and Answer forum for K12 Students. Inspired by Billy Collins’s poem-a-day program with the Library of Congress, Poetry 180… More. Shirley Toulson’s poem ‘A Photograph’ is a tribute to her mother. These moments especially occur when we are experiencing some anxiety about the future, or when we have lost a loved one. The poet can feel the grief but is unable to express it through words. There is nothing to say at all. Personification: The example is ‘Its silence silences.’ The situation has been given the human quality of silence. The mother was looking very pretty at that time and the photograph was taken a long time ago. For just a few moments, she finds relief by looking at her mother’s sweet face. Copyright © 2005 by Wisława Szymborska. Death leaves you speechless: The poet has been helpless to stop her mother’s death. You can take a look at th… Poem of the week: Class Photograph by Douglas Dunn A return to black and white avoids the sepia of nostalgia, in this poem written for an anthology to … Hint: the title of the poem is "Breakast" Hint: this poster is located near a construction site in London. SUMMARY The poet looks at the photograph of her mother, which was taken when her mother was 12 years old. Students can also check the English Summary to revise with them during exam preparation. She writes the word “feet” but she means the whole body, for the bodies of her mother and younger cousins are not immortal but only alive for a short time on earth. SINDIWE MAGONA is a multi-award winning author of plays, essays, novels, memoir, educational books for children and poetry. The author of this week’s poem Mimi Khalvati tells her interviewer here that she refuses to avoid nostalgia in her work. At first, the tone is both nostalgic and joyful as the poet looks at an old photograph of her mother in her girlhood. snapshot – photograph Both wry Please, Take Photographs is her first collection of poetry. Photography. Sea holiday was her mother’s past and her mother’s laughter has become a thing of the past for the poet as her mother was now dead. This is a realization that the poet also has. The painful silence of this situation leaves the poet speechless. If you guessed Billy Collins, you win. Both words have opposite meanings but here they are clubbed together. What is the poem 'A Photograph' about? The poet still remembers how her mother would laugh at the photograph remembering the sea-holiday with a fondness as well as a sense of loss because that time would never come back. So he wrote a poem about it, which was then printed in a teachers union publication. A. Shirley Toulson B. Rudyard Kipling C. Elizabeth Jennings D. Markus Natten . In order to cope with this great loss, the poet takes recourse to all the wonderful memories she has of her mother, as well as old photographs of her mother and her extended family. Before she died, she must live her life to the fullest and never let sorrow conquer her. Transferred Epithet: A transferred epithet is a description that refers to a character or event but is used to describe a different situation or character. Answer: Paddling Transient wading in the water in bare feet temporary […] 1. Who is the poet/poetess of the poem 'A Photograph'? Photographs are wonderful tools, especially when we use them to brighten our memories. Simply put, the poem's purpose is the reason why the author picked up the quill, pencil or pen or sat down at the keyboard in the first place. 2. In any case, there was no way that this grim future could have been predicted. The author of many collections of poetry, Jean Valentine has received such honors as the National Book Award, the Yale Series of Younger Poets Prize, and the Wallace Stevens Award from … A naked child is running along the path toward us, her arms stretched out, her mouth open, the world turned to trash behind her. In any case, she had begun to realize that she had started aging and that sooner or later she would have to die and leave the earth behind. He also wrote about the joys, laughter, and music. Dressed us for the beach.” The sea holiday As the speaker of this free verse poem describes a blurry photograph to the audience, the image's implications continuously transform I tried to talk to him as much as I could, but he wouldn't … The way in which the children were dressed up to go to the beach was planned by their parents. A Photograph Stanza Wise Explanation of The Poem, Stanza 1. On The Photograph Of A Corps Commander by Herman Melville. Yet when we see someone close to us dying, we feel that God has been unjust to us. The photograph halted them in life, and now keeps them above the earth toward the earth. Author: Katie Clark Submitted by: photography_freak If you are the copyright holder of this poem and it was submitted by one of our users without your consent, please … The girls’ life changed drastically during this period but the sea has not changed. One of Billie Holiday's most iconic songs is "Strange Fruit," a haunting protest against the inhumanity of racism. The photograph and thee memories serve her well. ‘Laboured ease’ in the poem is an example of an oxymoron. When the two girl cousins went paddling, Contrast between planned past and unknown future: In this poem, the photograph represents a planned past. This Is A Photograph Of Me Poem by Margaret Atwood.It was taken some time ago At first it seems to be a smeared ... (The photograph was taken the day after I drowned. “All three stood still to smile through their hair Hughes works portrayed the life of the black community, and the prejudice faced daily. Hughes published a copious amount writing including poetry, plays, novels, children’s books, and newspaper columns. A sweet face, laboured – achieved after a lot of hard work, done with great effort Click the icon above to listen to this audio poem. To determine purpose, ask yourself what the poet's intent was when she began to write. The tone of this poem undergoes a great change from the beginning of the poem to its end. Hence, it is important to cherish every moment you have with them. Many people know that the man who wrote the song was inspired by a photograph … A Photograph Poem Summary in English and Hindi Pdf. and not add a last line. The mention of the word ‘transient’ indicates the ever-changing lives of human beings as well as the shortness of their stay on this World, in contrast to the eternality of nature. search. The silence that death brings in your loved ones also leaves you silent. Kate Daniels. In the same way poet feels nostalgic thinking about her mother and her laughter which has become a thing of the past. She takes consolation from the fact that her mother had no great regrets about her own life. The contrast between the joyful past and the scary future is therefore a wide one, and provides for much of the sadness that the poet exudes towards the end of this poem. “Some twenty-thirty – years later The poem ‘A Photograph’ is written by Shirley Toulson. How to Crack Your CompTIA 220-1001 with Practice Tests? A Photograph is written by Shirley Toulson. David Berman. Therefore, it is easy to sympathize with the poet’s emotions in this poem. poem A photograph of class 11 ( HORNBILL) ENGLISH Multiple Choice Questions- A The cardboard shows the pictures a) two school girl b) two real sisters c)two neighbours d) poetess's mother and her two cousins B The' big girl' here means a) the eldest cousin of the mother - English - Author and the Book Its title is very much appropriate as it reminds the poet of his mother. An example of allusion in this poem is ‘cardboard’ which actually refers to the photograph. It shows that the photograph was very old but the poet has kept it very carefully as it reminded her of sweet memories of her mother’s childhood. Woods on either side, bathed in dreams: the path released from sleep. A photograph is more than just A gift to bring or send. The person might change in course of time but the memories attached with the photograph are eternal. My mother’s, that was before I was born. And more than just the likeness of A relative or friend. Comment on the major thematic concerns of Margaret Atwood’s poems, "This is a Photograph of Me" and "Progressive Insanities of a Pioneer." She has been deceased twelve years ago and she cannot explain her grief on her mother’s loss. It's so sad when we gaze upon the photograph of a loved one no longer with us. Stanza 2. “A Photograph” is one of the most relatable poems written by Shirley Toulson. Here you see The warrior-carriage of the head, And brave dilation of the frame; And lighting all, the soul that led In Spottsylvania's charge to victory, Which justifies his fame. The way their smiles were captured by the uncle was also planned. The photograph also indicates how enjoyable her mother’s childhood was. wry – disgusted There is no way of knowing when your loved ones may suddenly leave your side. Partisans of Jennifer L. Knox's "Hot Ass Poem" may advocate magnifying it on a poster in Portland, Oregon. Meeropol once said the photograph "haunted" him "for days." Find and share the perfect poems. Poems. Wisława Szymborska, “Photograph from September 11” from Monologue of a Dog. Stanza 4. Nostalgia is of course something that all readers can connect to. Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. Alan Alexander Milne (/ m ɪ l n /; 18 January 1882 – 31 January 1956) was an English There's enough time for hair to come loose, for keys and coins to fall from pockets. It has been twelve years since the poet’s mother died, and since the poet cannot talk about her death, she chooses instead to celebrate her mother’s life by looking at an old photograph of her glory days. Woods on either side, and screams: path unmoved down the middle. As soon as man is born, he is also condemned to a death sentence. This thought may also have been accompanied by the thought of her own death. Was her past, mine is her laughter. David Berman (1967-2019) is the author of the poetry collection Actual Air, published by Open City Books in 1999.He was also founder of the band The Silver Jews. There is the bitterness of loss, the sweet memories of the past, the realization of the brevity of human life, and the inability to justify death. The man (photographer) has been to all the trouble spots of the world, such as “Belfast, Beirut, and Phnom Penh.” This … “The cardboard shows me how it was Buy Close Poetry 180 By Selected and with an Introduction by Billy Collins Stanza 3. It is for certain that all readers have moments at which they can just get lost in memories of the past. A dazzling new anthology of 180 contemporary poems, selected and introduced by America’s Poet Laureate, Billy Collins. Therefore, it is easy to sympathize with the poet’s emotions in this poem. Washed their terribly transient feet.”, Word Meanings: dressed us – put on clothes In this poem, the poet uses the device of synecdoche in the form of part for whole in the 9th line. Explanation: The photograph shows that all three girls – the poet’s mother and her two cousins – stood still and smiled at the camera when their uncle clicked their photograph at the sea beach. It refers to human feet but it is used to describe the lack of permanence of human life. A. The poem, This Is a Photograph of Me belongs to Atwood’s second collection of poems, The Circle Game.The poem starts innocently with the pronoun “It” and the reader searches for the subject in the first few lines of conscious description. Learn how to write a poem about Photography and share it! Related Books. Sindiwe Magona. Considering the average life cycle of man, this is quite a young age at which to die. Perhaps the poet’s mother had been struck by some fatal disease, or perhaps she had died in an accident. In this poem, she recalls her mother and her memories while looking at a childhood photograph when her mother was twelve years old or so. Everything has changed since then, her mother grew up; now she was dead and the poet was reviving her memories. In the first stage, the photograph shows the poet’s mother standing at the beach enjoying her holiday with her two girl cousins. Explanation: An old photograph of the poet’s mother which was pasted on cardboard makes the poet recall the old memories of her mother’s childhood. A Basket of Flaming Ashes by … Invisible women. Explanation: Even 20-30 years later the mother would look at the photograph and laugh nostalgically remembering the happy memories of her past. For example, did she want to inspire, entertain or teach? She cannot talk about how her mother’s death has affected her. Explanation: The poet recalls that it is nearly twelve years since her mother died. Nostalgia is of course something that all readers can connect to. The poet’s mother was twelve years old then. As opposed to this, the family had no control over the children’s future. A tone of sadness creeps in when the poet compares the unchanging sea with the brevity of human life. Susan's Photograph (audio only) Jean Valentine - 1934-. That is, she used to look back to her childhood at the age of thirty-two or forty-two. Through the poem, we realize the essential worth of a picture, and how memories of the past prove a fuel for future life. Sindiwe Magona's poems conspire with her. The poem, “A Photograph” is composed in blank verse. You can take a look at the detailed Video Playlist containing the Summary, Analysis and Much more from the Poem: detailed Video Playlist containing the Summary, Snake by DH Lawrence Question and Answers, A Photograph Solved Question by Shirley Toulson. The poem describes three stages in the passage of time. silences – make someone unable to speak. Actually, he selfishly brought it on himself. Woods on either side and loud laughter: path silent down the middle. The mother would laugh at the way she and her cousins were dressed up for the beach holiday. Its silence silences.”, Word Meanings: Its predominant mood is one of nostalgia. The stanza beautifully explains the transient nature of human beings. Death is an unavoidable circumstance. “A Photograph” is one of the most relatable poems written by Shirley Toulson. . It wasn't as bad as what a lot of people go through in this world. 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