Wrinkles

This poem is a poignant exploration of the human experience of aging, employing the well-trodden literary figure of Helen to present a universal theme. The choice of Helen, a character traditionally associated with beauty and desire, underscores the dramatic shift the poem attempts to portray - the transition from youthful allure to the inevitably of age.

The poem's tone is melancholic yet bittersweet. It resonates with a sense of acceptance and resignation. The poet uses a detached, third-person perspective to describe Helen's despair at her aging visage. This perspective creates a certain emotional distance, allowing the reader to view Helen's plight with a degree of objectivity. Yet, the narrative voice becomes more intimate and empathetic towards the end, suggesting a deeper understanding of the character's emotional turmoil.

The structure supports this narrative arc, beginning with a vivid description of Helen's despair and moving towards acceptance. Notably, the poem uses various literary devices to enhance its theme. The "faithless brass" serves as a metaphor for the mirror, which reflects Helen's changing physicality. It is described as "faithless", suggesting the mirror's betrayal of Helen's youth. The poem also employs personification by referring to the wrinkles as having "intermarried and branch'd off awide". This creates a powerful image of age spreading across Helen's face, reinforcing the theme of time's inexorable passage.

In conclusion, this poem is a poignant exploration of aging. Through its use of character, tone, structure, and literary devices, it presents a portrait of beauty's fleeting nature and the bittersweet acceptance of life's impermanence.