In the poem "A Photograph" by Shirley Toulson, the word 'cardboard' refers to the material on which the photograph is mounted or printed. The use of the word 'cardboard' not only sets the stage for the poem but also conveys a sense of the photograph's age and physicality. The choice of the word 'cardboard' is significant for several reasons: It emphasizes the tangible nature of the photograph, providing a physical link to the past and the memories it represents.  The use of 'cardboard' suggests that the photograph is old, as older photographs were often mounted on cardboard for support and preservation. This detail helps establish the passage of time, a central theme in the poem and further accentuates the distance between the past and the present. The word 'cardboard' also conveys a sense of simplicity and modesty, reflecting the poem's focus on a seemingly ordinary moment captured in the photograph. The choice of this word helps emphasize the power of a simple photograph in evoking complex emotions and memories. Overall, the word 'cardboard' in the poem establishes the context, reinforces the themes of memory and the passage of time, and emphasises the power of a simple object in connecting the speaker to her mother's experiences.