13 How to Write an Ekphrastic Poem
“Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history. ”
Let’s begin:
Consider the Ekphrasis:
When preparing to write an ephrastic poem, first remember the form. The word “ekphrasis” is derived from Greek words that sum up the meaning “description.” An ekphrastic poem is a vivid description of a work of art. As the poet engages with the art, the meaning or the piece is explored and amplified. While it is true that the first ekphrastic poets produced detailed descriptions of the art, modern writers of this form not only interpret the work on a visual level, but also confront and even inhabit the piece, in dialog with the artist and even the art itself. And so, again, the ekphrasis is all about describing something someone has created: a painting, a sculpture, a dance, a pot. That’s it! Your poem can take any form. You can rhyme, but you do not have to rhyme. All you have to do is to make your choice of what to observe and your choices of perspective and form, and then simply observe the piece, interact with it, and describe the art: make your choices, interact, and respond!
Here is a chart that I have created that may be helpful as you begin this process of writing an ekphrastic poem. Just click here to bring up the Google Doc.
Step One - Choose the Art:
Find a work of art like a painting or a sculpture that you find fascinating. You can view the collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art , the MoMA, the National Gallery of Art online, and this Google search on famous paintings is a nice tool to use too. After you make your choice, list the details of the piece and a few notes regarding your initial reaction to this work. As you make your first observations, you may want to ask questions such as:
How does this artwork make me feel?
What are the first things I notice about this?
What is my experience as I look at this work?
Does the work remind me of anything: are any memories triggered?
Is there something that I can compare to this work?
Step Two - Choose Your Perspective and Your Tone:
There are several ways you can interact with the art before you- yes, and a number of perspectives you can take when describing art. You may choose to write as the viewer and just straight out, describe the scene that you observe. If you do this, you would note the colors, objects, and the placement of the composition. Maybe when you are looking at the art, your thoughts go more towards the creator of the piece. If this is the case, then, you may choose to take the perspective of the artist as you would think that person felt as they created the work. Just imagine a story about how that creator produced the art itself, taking the voice of the artist at work. Or, you may enjoy taking the perspective of one of the images inside the work. When I think of this, I think of all of the moving paintings in Hogwarts. If you do not know what I am talking about, it’s no big deal, just Google it to learn more, or move on.
Your poem could be your experience you have talking with the people or simply enjoying the landscape. If there are people involved in what you are viewing, you may like to think about what activities they are doing or - what they did after the moment they were captured in the painting or sculpture. Consider, when they moved from that spot depicted in the piece, where did they go? Or, perhaps, you would like to imagine a conversation that they are having. You may like to join them - walk into the piece, and get involved.
The tone, your attitude towards the subject, is your choice too. While the ode is all about praise and certainty, with the ekphrastic poem, your are free to be matter-of-fact, celebratory, solemn, inquisitive, or disdainful. Again, the choice is all yours.
Step Three - Choose Your Form:
Choose the writing format you will use. For ekphrastic writing in general, any genre works: a letter, a song, a story, a poem. But for this class, we are focusing on the poetic response. Even so, with this again, you have choices. You can select any type of poetic writing that you want to choose: the sonnet, the villanelle, the ode, an acrostic. Acrostics are fun with this because you can write the title down vertically, and for each letter write something that comes to mind about the artwork you are viewing. You may just want to write in free verse with no parameters whatsoever. It’s your choice, and so make it.
Step Four - Observe Closely and Write:
Observe the art. Engage with it. Interact with your selection, and write your ekphrastic poem utilizing all of the choices you’ve made in subject perspective, and form. Don’t forget to breathe and enjoy the process.
Step Five - Revise and Rewrite:
When you feel that you have written all that you can and have that sense of closure, review your work. Revise if you feel you need to change. Rewrite if you notice something out of place.
Step Six - Edit:
After reviewing for needed changes, it always go to go over your work again on more detailed level. Correct any errors in spelling and grammar that stand out to you.
Step Seven - Celebrate:
Reread it through again, and enjoy the flow. Celebrate your work! This that you now hold in your hands is something you have created - how wonderfully beautiful!
Step Eight - Share:
Do not forget to share your poem. Place it in the comments below; I would love to read it!
My Ekphrastic Poem:
My Inspiration: The Great Wave or simply The Wave, a woodblock print by the Japanese artist Hokusai.
Okinami
Okinami – mighty in the open ocean
off Kanagawa—Two fishermen's boats climb
The mountain, Fuji .
Blue and blue and blue and white
Rowing, reeling, rising roar
Okinami – mighty in the open ocean
Centered solid permanent
Wall of water
The mountain, Fuji.
Beautiful
Ominous
Okinami – mighty in the open ocean
Capped in white
And a white spray
The mountain, Fuji.
Rising cloud in pinkish sky
The guard whispers,
“Closing time.”
Okinami – mighty in the open ocean
The mountain, Fuji.
Questions
What is the title of the art pice you have selected as your subject, and who created it?
Why did you select this particular art piece to write about?
How many lines are in your poem?
What do you like most about your poem?
How did you engage with the art?