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Mini-Workshop: Writing an Ekphrastic Poem in Response to a Visual Work of Art

 

What is an ekphrastic poem?

Broadly defined, an ekphrastic poem describes another work of art:  a painting or statue, a piece of music, a dance, etc.

 

 

Examples

Famous

Listed: Poems inspired by paintings. A Selection of 10 Great Poems and the Paintings that Inspired Them.  (theartsdesk.com)

What is Ekphrastic Poetry? How Poets Engage with Art. (Thoughtco.c0m)

 

Modern

10 Ekphrastic Poems

 

Tips for writing an ekphrastic poem
  • Choosing one artwork that you respond to (touches, puzzles, frightens, clarifies) is key.
  • Go broad or go small: Write about the scene as a whole—or focus on a specific detail.
  • Choose an approach—there is no right or wrong way to write your poem:
  1. Write as an outsider: Write from the perspective of a “narrator”—how you are moved by the scene or subject depicted in the artwork as an objective observer (not just a description of what you see).
  2. Write as an insider: Imagine yourself standing “inside” the artwork, then write in the subjective voice of the person or objects shown.

 

5 Tips for Writing Ekphrastic Poetry. (PowerPoetry.com)