Ekphrastic

WhatsApp Image 2023-06-11 at 12.20.01 PM

                       “Listening To The Painting” by Dale Innis on Midjourney

Ekphrastic

I am the simultaneous translator for Art.

While it screams or weeps or snarls in place,

I carefully find the words it’s trying to say.

I give voice to its bold colors, its depressive greys,

even when it laughs loudly in my face,

I just laugh back and find the raucous adjective,

the verbs that hold their stomachs in,

giggling because they can’t stop.

I sit in front of its framed story,

like a courtroom stenographer

and I listen.

The strokes, the blending of the oils, the hideous and morose…

The running of the water colors burble in my mind..

And then when I feel permeated by the imagery,

I close my eyes and write the poem that it speaks to me

giving voice to its mute canvas, alive but until I sat down…

only visually.

Karima Hoisan
June 11, 2023
Costa Rica

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15 Responses to Ekphrastic

  1. daleinnis's avatar daleinnis says:

    These poems about your process in writing poems are always great. 🙂 The way an image or a song, or both, get into your head and inspire a poem is such a wonderful source of creativity. Thanks, as ever, for sharing this!

    Liked by 2 people

    • My pleasure to share and glad you enjoyed what I tried to say, Dale. Thank you also for your patience with Midjourney, that resisted strongly your prompt for this image..or any appropriate image for my poem:)

      Liked by 2 people

  2. Belavar Planiie's avatar Belavar Planiie says:

    Awesome

    Liked by 1 person

  3. swadharma9's avatar swadharma9 says:

    your response to the painting has won you free tuition to the “Other Types of Life Residential Teaching Program”: you will learn more than you ever imagined of the many other alternate lifeforms, who eagerly await your arrival. what a trip it will be!🛸👽🛸

    Liked by 2 people

  4. AmericaOnCoffee's avatar Americaoncoffee says:

    Very beautiful! Your word speak with love.❤️

    Like

  5. michnavs's avatar michnavs says:

    giving voice to its mute canvas, alive but until I sat down…

    I so love this line Karima❤️

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Hoyt's avatar Hoyt says:

    Great description of your writing process Ruca! From paintings, renderings and photos to your beautiful written work. Magic!

    Like

  7. The image and your verse are both captivating.

    Like

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