Welcome, welcome to the Ekphrastic Poetry Contest! The name's Parsat, and I'll be your host and judge for this new contest on ekphrastic poetry.
What is ekphrastic poetry? Ekphrastic poetry is basically writing poetry based on another form of art: a photo, a painting, a sculpture, a piece of architecture. It is writing poetry inspired by a specific image. This is a very flexible style of poetry; you could write in almost any given perspective. Here are a few:
1. Descriptive: You vividly describe what's going on, down to the minute details. 2. Artist's perspective: You go into the mind of the artist and reflect their innermost thoughts as they craft their art. 3. Subject's perspective: Take on the persona of the subject in the universe of the artwork they are in. 4. Address. Have an imaginary dialogue with the artist or the subject of the piece. 5. Self perspective: Write down your innermost emotions and thoughts upon viewing the image.
This is by no means a comprehensive list, and you are encouraged to find new ways to relate to the image. For example, if the picture was just a man wearing a tuxedo, I could write an imagined dialogue between me and the bowtie. I could make an elaborate backstory and write an epic of why this tuxedo-clad man is here. I could try to get into the mind of the photographer as he takes a picture of this man. Whatever the case, ekphrastic poetry is an exercise in inspiration.
So what are the rules?
1. All poems must relate in some way to the image. That's what ekphrastic poetry is about. It can be even loosely based, but it should still find some basis in the picture. 2. DO NOT BUG THE JUDGE ABOUT THE DEADLINE. I will try to meet the deadline, but please understand that my life does not revolve around AG. If it's really pressing, you may leave a nice comment on my messenger. Deadline quibblings on this thread will rightfully be considered spam. 3. You are free to use any poetic form you please. 4. As of yet, there is no merit prize. However, the winner will get to choose the theme for next week, upon which I will choose the image for you guys to write about. If you are the winner and you have an image in mind, you may give me a link, but I may choose it or not choose it as the actual ekphrastic prompt according to my discretion. I will not take picture requests from anyone else. 5. No winner can win two weeks in a row. They can win every other week (which I don't want to happen either), but let's give a chance for everyone to have their victory.
So those are the rules! This week's image can be found here:
Or just the novels and poetry anthologies and what not. Reading is an infinitely better way to gain vocabulary, experience, and ideas than just rote memorization.
EnterOrion has sent me a theme. Since I'm experimenting with this contest, I figure for this contest, I will allow you to choose your own pictures. You may even make your own picture if you so choose. Let me remind about a few rules:
1. Please make sure the image you choose is AG-appropriate (i.e. appropriate for the 12-17 demographic). 2. Please do not use image tags, just link to the image. We don't want to clog up the thread. 3. The poem should relate in some form to the theme.
The theme for this next contest is sleep. The deadline for entries is April 3. Have fun!
