Ekphrasis Poetry, 10/1

Poems that respond to or describe a piece of another art form are called ekphrasis poetry.  Beyond personal memory or current events, the art world can serve as a healthy muse for writers.  

• Perhaps you may respond to themes in the work that strike you
• Does the piece deal with a familiar topic (such as elegy or ode, love or hate, ...)?
• Is there a striking image?
• Does color or another element in the piece strike you?
• Language use that strike you?
• Melody in a song inspire you (Ever listen to classical music and envision a scene in your head?)?
• ...

Here are two general links to ekphrasis poems:

1. Poets.org 

2. Poetry Foundation


Here is a link to a famous Peter Blume piece at the Art Institute of Chicago: "The Rock"

• Let's read the copy that goes along with this piece, but then practice our own responses through a poem draft.