Quote 1 from Adrienne Rich, “Mourning Picture”

“I am Effie, visible and invisible, 

remembering and remembered.”

Quotation 2 from Fred Moramarco, “Speculations: Contemporary Poetry and Painting”

“By converting painterly images to words, he/she “envoices” a canvas, finding a language for the ineffable world of colors and forms” (p. 25)

Comment
Rich’s poem captures the strength and impact of being both present and absent in the line “I am Effie, visible and invisible”. This is because Effie is gone from reality but she is still visible within memories. Rich brings to live someone who is permanently frozen in time within a painting through his voice. Moramarco’s idea about “envoicing” a canvas describes what Rich portrays in his writing. The poem and the essay seem to suggest a translation of image to language. And that this image to language can bring back what was stuck in time. When this passage and poem are read together it shows how just describing an artwork through great detail can bring back its emotional impact and give it possible new meaning and dimension through words. 

Question
Moramarco argues that poetry “envoices” a painting. What are the ethical implications of giving voice to someone who cannot speak for themselves?