Akwankyerɛ

Ekphrastic

In my research, I heard this word pronounced many different ways. I pronounce it like this: ick-frass-tick. From the Greek term ékphrasis, or “description,” ekphrastic poetry is poetry written in response to art.

Look at the following painting: Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night. Then, read the ekphrastic poems written by two students in Elaine Juran’s 5^th grade classes at St. Luke’s School.

THE HAZY GLOW OF STARRY NIGHT

by Cici

I am laying in bed wide awake. No sudden movements

until I break. I need to see the starry night, the haze in the air, the whisper in the breeze. You might say if I were you I would be fast asleep. But wait one second for you

haven’t seen beyond the horizon

where farmers farm and animals talk. In my mind I climb the highest mountain to see every night every light in my town flick off. Then the stars turn on brights and lead my mind with lights. All the colors all the night feeds me my dream. Now I’m floating in space the real world is behind me.

STARS SHINING

by Grady

Stars shining in the sky while the wind howls through the air.

Churches point

touching the yellow sky

while the moon stares

on the town. Houses light up

making the town come alive.

Above the rest

cypress trees guards protects connecting the earth

to the heavens

protecting the town

with its mighty

branches.

Stars shining.

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Look at van Gogh's Starry Night again. Write your own ekphrastic poem!
Describe the painting.
What do you see? What's going on in the painting? Describe the colors. Describe the mood.
How does the painting make you feel?
Read what you've written. Now, try using a simile or a metaphor in your poem. Maybe... use repetition and rhyming words, or tell a story about the painting. Like Cici, try writing from van Gogh's perspective. Also, think about line breaks: Where do you want to end a line, and where do you want to begin a new one?
Have fun! I can't wait to read what you've written!

Works Cited

Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night: https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-starry-night/bgEuwDxel93-Pg?hl=en
Mentor Texts (Poems) from free sample of Awakening the Heart, Second Edition by Georgia Heard: https://www.heinemann.com/products/e17132.aspx

Introduction to Ekphrastic Poetry

Ekphrastic

Introduction to Ekphrastic Poetry

Ekphrastic