Ekphrasis

CRAFT TERM

Nov 7

Ekphrasis is a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the “action” of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning.

via Poetry Foundation

Example

Anne Sexton wrote ‘Starry Night” about Van Gogh’s famous painting:

The town does not exist
except where one black-haired tree slips
up like a drowned woman into the hot sky.
The town is silent. The night boils with eleven stars.
Oh starry starry night! This is how
I want to die.

Prompt

When writing a poem inspired by a work of art, especially a realistic work, it is sometimes helpful to ask oneself “What happened before and after this scene took place?” to spark a poem. For abstract pieces, focus on the aspects that draw your attention. What emotions do they evoke? Let your emotions drive your poem forward.

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Featured

Anne Marie Wells

is an award-winning, Queer poet, playwright, memoirist and storyteller navigating the world with a chronic illness. She is a faculty member of the Community Literature Initiative through the Sims Library of Poetry. She was the 2020 recipient of the Milestone Award presented by Wyoming Writers Inc., and the Rising Star Award presented by the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce. She was the 2021 recipient of the Peter K. Hixson Memorial Award in poetry and was nominated as a Wyoming Woman of Influence in the arts category for her work in amplifying the voices of the LGBTQ and disabled communities in Wyoming through her writing.

Find her at annemariewellswriter.com | 📚 Read More by Anne Marie