Invisible
Elizabeth Devereux
1934 to 2023
Wrinkled hands clutch worn wooden canes,
Shuffling past, unseen, unheard, unnamed.
You rush by, averting eyes from my weathered face,
Blind to the tapestry of years I've laced.
Once, I danced in Singapore's gilded halls,
Fled war's fury, scaled fortune's falls.
I loved a pilot who kissed the sky,
His crash, my heart's unending cry.
I wandered Europe's cobbled streets,
Penned verses of loss and bittersweet.
In Seville's sun, I found my stage,
A genteel beggar, an artful sage.
You see a crone, a burden, naught but old,
Not the tales of fire and ice I hold.
My eyes, though dimmed, have witnessed war and peace,
My voice, though soft, once made the mighty cease.
If I should stumble, fall upon the stone,
You'd rush to help, but only flesh and bone
Would you perceive – not spirit, not the soul
That burns still bright, though body's no longer whole.
You pat my hand, all pity, no real care,
Convinced that you'll never be caught in age's snare.
But time ticks on, relentless in its march,
And you too shall pass beneath its arch.
Remember, then, these words from one who knows:
Behind each lined face, a universe grows.
In every elder's step, a lifetime treads,
Invisible worlds crown our silver heads.
Elizabeth Devereux's Invisible
Introduction
Elizabeth Devereux's poem "Invisible" presents a poignant exploration of the often-overlooked experiences of the elderly, weaving together themes of aging, memory, and societal indifference. Through vivid imagery and a compelling narrative voice, Devereux crafts a powerful critique of ageism while simultaneously celebrating the rich inner lives of older individuals. This essay will delve into the poem's structure, literary devices, thematic content, and broader cultural implications, revealing the layers of meaning within this deceptively simple work.
Structure and Form
"Invisible" consists of 32 lines arranged in 16 rhyming couplets, creating a rhythmic flow that mirrors the steady march of time central to the poem's themes. The consistent AABB rhyme scheme lends a sense of orderliness to the piece, contrasting with the chaotic and varied experiences described within. This juxtaposition serves to highlight the tension between the speaker's rich inner world and the reductive way society views the elderly.
The poem's meter, while not strictly adhering to a single form, generally follows an iambic pattern with occasional variations. This subtle irregularity in the meter echoes the unpredictable nature of life's journey, as well as the speaker's resistance to being confined by society's expectations.
Narrative Voice and Perspective
Devereux employs a first-person narrative voice, allowing the reader to intimately connect with the speaker's experiences and emotions. This choice is particularly effective in challenging the reader's preconceptions about the elderly, as it forces us to confront the complex individuality of a person we might otherwise dismiss.
The speaker's tone shifts throughout the poem, moving from resigned observation ("You rush by, averting eyes from my weathered face") to fierce pride in past accomplishments ("Once, I danced in Singapore's gilded halls") to a prophetic warning ("But time ticks on, relentless in its march"). These tonal variations create a multifaceted portrait of the speaker, resisting any simplistic characterization.
Imagery and Symbolism
The poem is rich with vivid imagery that contrasts the speaker's current physical state with her vibrant past. The "wrinkled hands" and "weathered face" of the present are juxtaposed against memories of dancing in "Singapore's gilded halls" and wandering "Europe's cobbled streets." This contrast serves to emphasize the disconnect between the speaker's outward appearance and her inner vitality.
Devereux employs several potent symbols throughout the poem. The "worn wooden canes" in the opening line symbolize both the physical support needed in old age and the weight of accumulated experiences. The "tapestry of years" metaphor beautifully encapsulates the intricate and interconnected nature of a life fully lived.
Perhaps the most striking symbol is the "invisible worlds" that "crown our silver heads" in the poem's final line. This image powerfully conveys the idea that the elderly carry within them entire universes of experience and wisdom, unseen by those who fail to look beyond surface appearances.
Themes and Cultural Commentary
At its core, "Invisible" is a searing indictment of society's treatment of the elderly. The poem explores themes of ageism, invisibility, and the devaluation of life experience in a youth-obsessed culture. Devereux critiques the tendency to reduce older individuals to their physical limitations, ignoring the rich inner lives and valuable perspectives they possess.
The poem also touches on themes of resilience and the enduring nature of the human spirit. Despite the physical decline that comes with aging, the speaker's inner fire "burns still bright," a testament to the indomitable nature of the human will.
Memory and the passage of time play crucial roles in the poem. The speaker's recollections of past adventures and loves serve not only to illustrate her rich life experience but also to highlight the universal nature of aging. The warning that "you too shall pass beneath its arch" reminds the reader of their own mortality and the inevitability of joining the ranks of the elderly.
Literary Devices and Techniques
Devereux employs a range of literary devices to enhance the poem's impact. Alliteration, as seen in phrases like "fled war's fury" and "penned verses," adds musicality to the lines and emphasizes key concepts. The use of assonance, particularly in the repeated long "i" sound in "Invisible" and "eyes," subtly reinforces the theme of sight and perception.
The poem makes effective use of antithesis, contrasting youth with age, visibility with invisibility, and physical decline with spiritual vitality. This technique serves to highlight the complex and often contradictory nature of the aging experience.
Devereux also incorporates elements of the dramatic monologue form, allowing the speaker to reveal her character through her observations and recollections. This approach invites the reader to empathize with the speaker and reconsider their own attitudes towards the elderly.
Intertextuality and Literary Connections
While "Invisible" stands as a powerful work in its own right, it also engages with a broader literary tradition of poems addressing aging and societal attitudes towards the elderly. Echoes of Dylan Thomas's "Do not go gentle into that good night" can be heard in the speaker's defiant assertion of her continuing vitality. The poem's exploration of the rich inner lives behind seemingly unremarkable exteriors recalls William Wordsworth's "Resolution and Independence," which similarly finds profound depth in an encounter with an elderly individual.
The global scope of the speaker's experiences, from Singapore to Seville, places the poem in conversation with works of postcolonial literature that explore themes of displacement and cross-cultural identity. In this context, the speaker's invisibility takes on additional layers of meaning, potentially commenting on the marginalization of immigrant experiences in Western societies.
Conclusion
Elizabeth Devereux's "Invisible" is a masterful exploration of aging, memory, and societal perceptions. Through its carefully crafted structure, vivid imagery, and nuanced thematic content, the poem challenges readers to reconsider their attitudes towards the elderly and to recognize the vast reservoirs of experience and wisdom that often go unacknowledged.
The poem's power lies not only in its critique of ageism but also in its affirmation of the enduring human spirit. By giving voice to an often-silenced demographic, Devereux creates a work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. "Invisible" serves as a poignant reminder of the complexity and value of every human life, regardless of age, and challenges us to look beyond surface appearances to the "invisible worlds" that exist within each individual.
In an era marked by rapid technological change and an increasingly youth-oriented culture, "Invisible" stands as a vital counterpoint, urging us to honor the experiences of our elders and to recognize the inevitability of our own aging. It is a poem that rewards multiple readings, each encounter revealing new layers of meaning and inviting deeper reflection on our own attitudes and behaviors towards the elderly members of our communities.