The Art of Disappearing

“The Art of Disappearing” is written in free verse, which means the poem uses a conversational tone and style that mimics typical speech, including the use of dialogue to create hypothetical scenes, characters, and examples of the things the reader can say to avoid social interactions and “disappear.” The stanza breaks the Shihab Nye uses help to separate each scene and each piece of advice and create space where the reader can pause to consider what is being said. This creates a rhythm to the poem, albeit one that is irregular.

Instead of utilizing direct address, the speaker addresses a hypothetical listener without naming or identifying them directly. The speaker only calls them “you” (Line 3). This might be the universal “you.” It applies to everyone. However, the speaker uses some specific examples that seem unique to herself. When she says that parties mean “[s]omeone telling you in a loud voice / they once wrote a poem” (Lines 6-7), the reader can infer she is drawing from her own experience. Using a direct address and framing the poem as a list of pieces of advice allows the speaker to talk about her own experiences but also help the reader learn something they can apply to their own lives.