After “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison, the Prologue
I chose to write an ekphrasis insipired by Jeff Wall’s photo.
In a crowd of people he is invisible,
A shadow cast in dim lighting.
When alone he is illuminated,
In a room full of light.
Still,
While alone.
There is comfort of being one among many.
Hidden, in the forgotten treasures of the world.
Treasures the average person disregards without thought
But can also have value if one looks deeper within.
Some details in the photo such as the amount of light bulbs and crowded walls are brought up in the poem. The first four lines of the poem were in reference to the light bulbs in the photo. The first four lines are saying he blends in around people, but can be himself when he is alone. The “forgotten treasures” in the poem was a reference to the crowded walls in the photo. The “forgotten treasures” also had a double meaning and was used to talk about the guy in the photo. The last two lines of the poem were talking about the forgotten treasures in the man’s room, but was also saying the man has been overlooked and has value as well. The guy in the photo seems tired. He is sitting down wearing pants with suspenders and an undershirt, while his shoes lay nearby. His appearance suggests he just got home from a tiring day of work. I used his tired appearance in the poem to communicate that the man may be overlooked or undervalued in his everyday life, but can be himself while he is alone.
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