Losses Experienced by the Poet and Her Mother in "A Photograph"

The poem "A Photograph" by Shirley Toulson depicts the speaker's reminiscence of a photograph that captures her mother, herself, and her two cousins. The photograph becomes a medium for the speaker to revisit old memories and reflect on the losses that both her mother and she had to endure. Here are the losses experienced by the poet and her mother:

Loss of Youth and Innocence
- The photograph captures the speaker's mother and her cousins when they were young and carefree.
- The speaker recalls how her mother used to be "gay and laughing" in her youth, but the passage of time has changed her.

Loss of Loved Ones
- The speaker's mother lost her husband, the speaker's father, who is also present in the photograph. The father's absence is felt in the "space" he left behind.
- The speaker's mother also lost her brother (one of the cousins in the photograph) who died young, leaving her "griefs in life to bear."

Loss of Connection
- The photograph is a reminder of the past and the bond the family members shared, but the present reality is different.
- The speaker realizes that she and her cousins have drifted apart and "scattered like leaves" due to various reasons.

Loss of Memories
- The photograph serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of time and memories.
- The speaker acknowledges that memories can be distorted or forgotten as time passes, and the photograph is one way to preserve them.

In conclusion, the losses experienced by the poet and her mother in "A Photograph" range from the loss of youth and innocence to the loss of loved ones, connection, and memories. The poem highlights the transience of life and the importance of cherishing the moments and people that matter.

The lose in life of poet is lose of her mother while the lose in the life of poet's mother is the lose of her childhood