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 Summary of The Poem A Photograph: CBSE Class ll
 English (Hornbill)


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 Toulson



A Photograph by Shirley Toulson, part of the Class ll English syllabus, captures the
essence of time, loss, and nostalgia. The poem revolves around the poet's reflections
on her late mother through a cherished childhood photograph. The summary of the
poem A Photograph highlights how memories can immortalise moments of joy
while simultaneously evoking sorrow as time progresses. Toulson contrasts the
innocence of the past with the inevitability of loss, creating a moving narrative that
emphasises the transient nature of life and the enduring power of memories.


About the Author
Shirley Toulson is a poet who lives in the United States. She was born in Henley—on-
Thames, United Kingdom, on 20 lvlay 1924 and had studied ELA Literature from
Brockenhurst College's Literature in London. Her famous works are The Drovers, A
Celebration of Celtic Christian Saints, Sites, and Festivals lvldre


Central Idea of the Poem
Shirley Touisan's poem ’A Photograph’ is a loving tribute to her mother. The poem
reflects the passage of time and its three stages. In the first stage, the photograph
shows his mother enjoying a holiday on a beach along with her two girl cousins. She
was 12 at the time. The second stage transports us to twenty or thirty years later. This
stage shows the mother laughing at her picture and the way she and her cousins
were dressed in the picture at a beach. in the third stage, the poet sadly remembers
the dead mother with his broken heart. The photograph revives nostalgic waves in
the poet.




Summary of the Poem - A Photograph
                                                                         



       - The cardboard shows me how it was

       - When the two girl cousins went paddling,

       - Each one holding one of my mother's hands,

       - And the big girl — some twelve years or so."
A tdttered picture of the poet’s mother and her cousins on a beach wds pasted on a
piece of cardboard. The photo reflected the hdppy memories of his mother's
childhood vacdtion, where she was along with her younger cousins. Holding his
mother’s hands the two younger cousins walked on the shdllow water of the sea.
They walked barefoot enjoying the water. The poet's mother was twelve years old in
the picture.

This stanza shows that dlthough the picture was old, still the poet kept it close to his
heart. He wanted to save his mother’s childhood memories as it made him happy
too.

The photograph also indicates how enjoyable her mother's childhood was.
"All three stood still to smile through their hdir

At the uncle with the camera. A sweet face,

My mother‘s, that was before lwas born.
And the sea, which appedrs to hdve changed less,

Washed their terribly transient feet."

The photograph shows all three girls enjoying themselves. The poet's mother and
her two cousins posed for the camera by standing still when their uncle clicked their
photograph at the sea beach. As the weather was too windy at that time, their hair
went flying over their happy faces. The expression on the faces of the poet's mother
and her cousins was that of happiness and joy. The mother was looking very pretty
at that time and the photograph was taken a long time ago.
                                                                



All those beautiful and happy memories were just memories now, his mother wds
dead and the poet missed her a lot. The only thing thdt remained unchanged is the
sea which was washing down their feet. The mention of the word ‘trdnsient' reflects
on the ever—changing lives of human beings as well as how short our lives dre on
this universe in contrdst to the eternal life of nature which remains. The girls' life
changed drastically during this period but the sea has not changed. The stanzd
beautifully explains the transient nature of human beings.

"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 edse of loss."
Even 29-30 years later the mother would look at the photograph and laugh
nostalgically remembering the happy memories of her past. lvlother would look at
the photograph and comment on the dresses worn by the cousins” Dolly, Betty, and
herself.

The 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. The poet still
remembered 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. In the same way, the poet feels nostalgic thinking about her
mother and her laughter which has become a thing of the past.
'Laboured’ and ‘Ease’ can be called antonyms of each other but both of these words
describe the same entity, 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."
                                                                         Winnie,





The poet's mother has now been dead for nearly as long as the girl in the
photograph. The poet is at a loss for words to express her feelings about her death.
It's a solemn moment, and its silence has rendered her speechless. As a result, the
poet pays homage to her mother. The old snapshot is what brings her to a halt.

Explanation: The poet recalls that it has been nearly twelve years since her mother
had died. The poet is consumed with grief but is left with no words to express her loss
and pain. The poet is totally absorbed in memories of her dead mother. The painful
silence of this situation leaves the poet speechless. The poet can feel the grief but is
unable to express it through words. The silence caused by death makes the
atmosphere gloomy, where no one is able to utter words.

This poem is a tribute to the poet’s mother by visiting happy memories of her
childhood through a photograph.

Short Summary of Poem A Photograph
In A Photograph by Shirley Toulson, the poet reflects on a cherished photograph of
her late mother as a child, capturing a carefree moment at the beach with her
cousins. The photograph, taken years ago, shows her mother enjoying the
innocence and simplicity of childhood. The poet draws a contrast between the past,
filled with joy and laughter, and the present, overshadowed by her mother’s absence
due to her passing. The poem vividly illustrates the passage of time, highlighting the
inevitability of change and the pain of loss.



Through the photograph, Toulson captures how memories are preserved despite
life's transience. The poet's mother once reminisced about her own past with
nostalgia, just as the poet now reflects on the memories of her mother. The poem
poignantly conveys themes of love, grief, and the permanence of memories,
reminding readers of the bittersweet nature of life and its fleeting moments.




Literary Devices in a Photograph
Alliteration uses a consonant sound at the start of two or more words in a row. The
following are examples of alliteration in the poem:
                                                           



Stood still
Through their

My mother’s

Terribly transient

Silence silences




Oxymoron: An oxymoron is a literary device in which two opposing ideas are
combined to generate an effect. in the poem, the phrase 'laboured ease' is an
oxymoron. The word 'laboured' indicates 'difficulty,' while 'ease' means 'comfortabiy.'
Both words have opposing connotations, although they are used interchangeably
here.

'lt's quiet silences,' for example, is a good example of personification. The scenario
has a human quality of silence to it.



A term conveying a trait of a person or object is called an epithet.




Conclusion:
The poem A Photograph by Shirley Toulson serves as a poignant reflection on the
inevitability of loss and the passage of time. Through the photograph, the poet
immortalises a fleeting moment of joy from her mother’s childhood, contrasting it
with the present reality of her absence. The poem beautifully captures the enduring
nature of memories that allow loved ones to remain alive in our hearts, even after
they are gone.

Toulson's exploration of grief and nostalgia is universal, as it resonates with anyone
who has experienced the pain of losing someone dear. The photograph symbolises
the power of simple moments to preserve the essence of life and love. In the end, the
poem leaves readers with a profound understanding of life’s transience and the
importance of cherishing memories as a way to keep the past alive.