The Living Photograph (Jackie Kay)

Line 1 : My small grandmother is tall there,

Line 2 : straight-back, white broderie anglaise shirt,
Line 3 : pleated skirt, flat shoes, grey bun,
Line 4 : a kind, old smile round her eyes.
Line 5 : Her big hand holds mine,
Line 6 : white hand in black hand.
Line 7 : Her sharp blue eyes look her own death in the eyes.

Line 8 : It was true after all, that look.

Line 9 : My tall grandmother became small.
Line 10 : Her back round and hunched.
Line 11 : Her soup forgot to boil.
Line 12 : She went to the awful place grandmothers go.
Line 13 : Somewhere unknown, unthinkable.

Line 14 : But there she is still,

Line 15 : in the photo with me at three,
Line 16 : the crinkled smile is still living, breathing.