Across Genres

Ekphrasis is the detailed description of an image, predominately a work of art or other fabricated object, within a literary work. Many ekphrastic poems describe and respond to visual media, including painting, photography, architecture, sculpture, landscaping, tapestry, etc. Other ekphrastic poems describe durational art that engages multiple senses, such as plays, videos, music, or installation art.

Select a work of art that you are able to access at home. This can be a film, a reproduction of a painting, a song, etc. Spend some time with the work, taking notes on what you notice, describing the piece, the feelings and memories that are evoked in you, etc. Compose 7-10 questions you have about the work of art.

Ekphrastic poems to read:

• Victoria Chang, "Edward Hopper Study: Hotel Room"
• Tiana Clark, "BBHMM"
• Sadiqa de Meijer, "Pastorals in the Atrium"
• Tyehimba Jess, "Sissieretta Jones"
• Sally Wen Mao, "The Toll of the Sea"
• Nyla Matuk, "Subject and Object"
• Anne Sexton, "The Starry Night"

Questions to consider:

• Based on the poet’s description, are you able to imagine the work that they are responding to in each poem?
• What kinds of language do they use to describe? What information do they leave out?
• How does the speaker feel about the work described? What is their relationship to the work of art?

Write an ekphrastic poem that works to answer one of the questions you have about a work of art. You can take the point of view of someone who is enjoying the work of art, who created the work of art, or a character or object within the work of art.