Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Invitation" by Stephen Dobyns takes us through a narrative that wryly examines the notion of failure and redemption, juxtaposing earthly misfortunes with the absurdities of an afterlife that echoes the same frustrations. This poem, through its dark humor and irony, poses deeper questions about the value of life, the arbitrariness of 'success' and 'failure,' and the ultimate equality that death imposes on all.

The poem begins with a series of thwarted suicide attempts, each more comically inept than the last. This man, whom Dobyns describes as the "would-be suicide," fails even at self-destruction, only to succumb to an illness brought on by something as mundane as a cold rain. There's a sense of futility that surrounds this character's life, a suggestion that his misfortunes are as relentless as they are absurd.

Upon his accidental death, the protagonist finds that the afterlife mirrors the bureaucratic and hierarchical absurdities of the living world. His mishaps continue in heaven, a place traditionally conceived as a realm of eternal bliss and reward. But here, heaven functions with a celestial parody of earthly life, complete with chores and mishaps—his halo nearly chokes him, he breaks his harp strings, and he is even questioned on his right to be there by an illustrious assembly of the 'noble dead'.

The critique is subtle but sharp—Dobyns seems to question the value systems that separate the 'deserving' from the 'undeserving'. The objections of the archbishop or general underscore the inherent pettiness and exclusivity of human conceptions of merit and reward. The poem challenges the reader to consider the arbitrary nature of who is deemed a 'winner' or 'loser' and the fairness of the ultimate judgment that admits people to heaven.

Unaware of these celestial judgments, the protagonist remains on his own, contemplative and detached. As he watches the sunset from his "little cloud house," he reflects on the pointlessness of human activity, the rush to reach destinations without recognizing that the ultimate destination is the same for everyone: death. His meditation becomes an 'invitation' to consider a more existential perspective on life, one that sees beyond the frantic pace of achievement and acquisition.

In a twist of fate, his tears, falling from heaven, become a moment of awakening for a salesman, a personification of the human rat race. The salesman's epiphany after being struck by the protagonist's tears is almost a moment of grace, a gift from the 'loser' to the living, showing the possibility of finding meaning and beauty where none was apparent. The would-be suicide, through his own tragicomic experiences, inadvertently becomes a catalyst for another's transformation.

The salesman's sudden desire to dance the tango and his interaction with the woman highlights the spontaneity and joy that can be found when one steps outside the conventional paths of life. Her response, "didn't you know I was only waiting for you to ask me?" suggests that opportunity and connection are often closer than we think; it just requires the courage to ask, to step out of our routines and embrace the fullness of life.

"The Invitation" is a compelling reflection on the human condition, examining our perceptions of success, the finality of death, and the potential for moments of beauty and transformation. It invites us to laugh at the absurdity of our earnestness and the constructs of worth we create, urging us to live fully and with an awareness of life's transience and the ultimate democratizing force of death.

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