Two Photographs

In this poem the persona looks at two photos of his different grandmothers and talks about although they are very different her appreciates them both for their individuality and loves them both the same. The poem talks about the passing of time and memories and the identity of these two women. 

Stanza 1:

• 'how slim' first thing mention about grandma, gives first impressions and suggests this reflects her personality. 
• 'pretty' 'slim' 'vulnerable' are mens expectations of women, Doris contrasts this being 'portly formiddable handsome' showing they are the oppisite but he celebrates them both. 
• Outfits are used to show more about their character Annabella has a 'demure black frock...amber brooch' whereas Doris has a 'lacy black gown...string of pearls' showing they are equally valuable in different ways and this impression of them lasts through time. Use of synonyms shows how he loves them the same way and they had simalar things and lives but did them differently. Doris' outfit is in the second stanza reinforcing the contrast. Abse could be questioning the way we judge people's personality on the way they dress. 

Stanza 2:

• locations and dates of photos are given, but no further details, suggesting Abse doesn't actually no that much about them as most of his discriptions are limited to about the photographs. 
• 'both were told to say 'cheese'; one, defiant said 'chalk!'' reinforces the way they live similar lives but are very different. The women are chalk and cheese, so complete opposites. 

Stanza 3:

• repitition of p when describing both women reinforces despite thier diffrenences they were loved the same, one 'pacy, pushy' the other 'pious, passive' not necessarily positive words but show affection.
• one 'dammed' the other with a 'devilish laugh' linking to the way women judge eachother and said with affection showing they both have fault but Abse doesn't care.

Stanza 4:

• 'not for the commencement of a duel' shows how they don't get on, but he doesn't want them to right, just wants to keep his memories alive. 
• 'who was taller' shows he's embracing differences. suggests a rivalry and competition. 
• 'eau de cologne grandmothers, with buns of grey hair' emphasizes their similarities. 
• 'seem illusory, fugitive, like a dream' shows it is hard to remember it seems not real anymore. 
• 'dust that secretively flows in sudden sunbeam' metaphor for memories coming at certain times, but you can't control or summon them, they come on their own accord.  
• 'seived' leaky' suggests memories can be easily lost, losing details. 

Stanza 5:

• 'loved' shows his affection for both of them.'whats survived' shows even though they were loved they will be forgotton.  
• 'an amber brooch, a string of pearls, two photographs' shows only the physical things survive but from these you can remember them as they are symbols of their personality.suggests only material things will keep them alive which is sad. 
• 'who' would be so insignificant to his grandchildren, it was as if they 'never lived', but are so important to him as without them he would not exist. People can only stay alive through memories so he feels they are important to keep himself alive. If you forget about your family and where you came from it no longer exists. 

Links:

• 'for sidney bechet' celebration of a life
• 'love songs in age' remembering through objects
• 'wild oats' looking at two photographs, comparing women