Question

From the poem A Photograph

1)What is the meaning of phrase "Terribly transient Feet"?

2)What has not changed over years?

3, What does "this circumstance" refers to?

Answer 1

a)
The author used the phrase 'terribly transient feet' to signify less time lasting (i.e., transient) life of the human beings, where on the other hand, nature is eternal and immortal.
Humans change due to their growth and ultimately die. But the objects of nature(like sea, ocean etc) never change.

The poetess symbolized
sea as eternity where as 'terribly transient' signifies humans non permanence.

The poetess used it to highlight the ephemeral nature of humans life.


b)
The lines 'And the sea, which appears to have changed less' depicts that sea have stayed the same over the years. It has not changed at all.
These lines suggest a sharp contrast to mortal human life

c)
'This circumstance' refer to the present situation of the poetess where in the poetess is absorbed in the painful memory of her dead mother.
Looking at the photograph and thinking of her mother's laughter, the poetess also realises that it has been same no. of years since her mother died as her mother's age in the photograph.



Hope it helps
;)