I wrote my first ekphrastic poem in 12th grade. The assignment was to choose any painting in the world and write a short poem on it. There was something so fascinating about this assignment to me that I was compelled to look into poetry further. An ekphrastic poem is a dramatic piece of writing about a work of art. It is clear to see why this type of poetry is so enchanting. Art itself is so subjective, and personal reflections on any artwork are a great way to practice writing and creativity skills. For example, this is the poem I wrote in 12th grade:
And So The Wind Looks On
Scarcely do they notice me,
As they huddle with glee.
The star-crossed lover
With her other as a cover
Never stopping for a rest,
They love as if possessed.
I envy their nature,
Admitting it all seems great on paper.
But I know the truth
Of the tainted youth
From years of knowledge
I know she’ll never acknowledge
The warning sign
That she’ll never be his “mine.”
Looking back on this piece, I will admit that I rhymed “knowledge” with “acknowledge,” but otherwise I love the way this painting made me think. I took the perspective of the wind for this poem and focused on a romantic lens. Ekphrastic poems are a beautiful way of expressing one’s feelings about art.
If you ever feel in a creative rut, try finding a painting that inspires you and write about it! It’s a great way to feel closer to the art we see and hear every day.