Introduction to Ekphrastic Poetry

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Instructions

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 5th 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.

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