Hello, all!

This month, I have an Ekphrastic poem, thanks to my poetry class.

An Ekphrastic poem is a poem focused on describing a piece of known or unknown artwork. And not just simply describing the artwork. Interacting with it, re-envisioning it, showing new points of view in ways no other artist can. Ekphrastics can be the perfect way to combine a poet’s love of art with their love of poetry, or vice versa!

This poem is inspired by the famous The Scream painting by Edvard Munch. It was always strange to me, and I never understood it. But now, after growing older and going deeper into the meanings of artwork (and actually reading the information providing in things like this on websites), I understand it more. This is my exploration of that. Without further ado… enjoy.

The Scream. Inspired by The Scream, by Edvard Munch.

As a child, I saw this piece 

and wondered what he was so afraid of. 

In the eyes of a child, I saw 

a child’s scribbles, colored pencils and sunsets. 

I saw life and water and a man  

who was looking the wrong way. 

Now, as a teen, I see this piece 

and understand what he’s so afraid of. 

In the eyes of a teen, I see 

frantic swathes of color, red panic and 

I see waters to drown in, 

ghosts of the mind coming to catch him 

but he’s still facing the wrong way.