Ekphrasis refers to a poem or story that is directly inspired by another piece of art. Ekphrastic literature often describes another piece of art, such as the classic “Ode on a Grecian Urn”:

• O Attic shape! Fair attitude! withbrede
• Of marble men and maidens overwrought,
• With forest branches and the trodden weed;
• Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought
• As doth eternity: Cold Pastoral!
• When old age shall this generation waste,
• Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe
• Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say’st,
• “Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all
• Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.”

Ekphrasis can be considered a direct allusion because it borrows language and images from other artwork. For a great example of ekphrasis—as well as a submission opportunity for writers!—check out the monthly ekphrastic challenge that Rattle Poetry runs.

Ekphrasis Writing Exercise

Try your hand at ekphrasis by picking a piece of art you really enjoy and writing a poem or story based off of it. For example, you could write a story about Mona Lisa having a really bad day, or you could write a black-out poem created from the lyrics of your favorite song.

Or, try Rattle‘s monthly ekphrastic challenge! All art inspires other art, and by letting ekphrasis guide your next poem or story, you’re directly participating in a greater artistic and literary conversation.