‘Apollo’s Lament’ by Brian Yapko
. Apollo’s Lament He pounds his naked chest and looks for bones Suspecting that the bay tree is a sham....
Ekphrastic
‘Uluru / Ayers Rock’ and Other Australia Poetry by James A. Tweedie
. Photo of Uluru / Ayers Rock by the Poet Uluru / Ayers Rock The winter outback chill of mid-Julys...
A Poem on Criselda Vasquez’s ‘New American Gothic,’ by Bruce Dale Wise
. A Working Man and Wife “…aware of the humanity on the other side of the door.” ---Criselda Vasquez They...
On Three Pre-Raphaelite Paintings, by Peter Hartley
. . The Hireling Shepherd painting by William Holman Hunt This comely wench was Emma Watkins, she Who sat for...
‘The Mystery of the Amber Room’ by Brian Yapko
. A fabled place adrift in history Which makes the spirit ache for what was lost; A masterpiece destroyed in...
Musings on Dali’s ‘Christ of St. John of the Cross,’ by Peter Hartley
. I This crucifixion hides the anguish. Racked With pain, belied by bloodless hands and feet; Intolerable torments, they compete...
‘Salvator Mundi’ by Sandi Christie
. Da Vinci’s lauded “Savior of the World”— Commissioned by the King- Louis of France, * Entombed for years by...
‘Saddle Tramp’ by Leland James
. —like his saddle, hat, and spurs No silver on this cowboy’s working saddle; borne bedrolls, stray calves, and dry...
‘Contemplating Aristotle Contemplating a Bust of Homer’ by James A. Tweedie
. Contemplating Aristotle Contemplating a Bust of Homer He stands enwrapped in luminous shadowed light, A woven cord of gold...
Poetry on Piero della Francesca’s ‘History of the True Cross,’ by Michael Coy
. The Death of Adam Excerpted from Musings on Piero della Francesca’s “History of the True Cross,” in the Church...
Two Poems on Benvenuto Cellini, by Joseph S. Salemi
. Benvenuto Cellini’s Salt-Cellar A woman sitting back, just mildly curious To hear a man’s contrived, seductive patter, Waiting to...
A Poem on Sir Edward John Poynter’s ‘Faithful unto Death,’ by Peter Hartley
. From Parthenope’s coast each to his post, Beseeching eyes upraised with steady gaze. That night would nature’s cruelty erase...
Winners of the ‘Napa Valley Winery’ Ekphrastic Poetry Contest
Thank you to everyone who participated! This was a great effort for a meaningful purpose: the recent burning down of...
A Poem on ‘Black Lives Matter’ and Others by C.B. Anderson
Context Is Everything When you attempt to cut some string A hammer doesn’t do a thing— Jackknives matter. When...
Ekphrastic Contest: Write a Poem on This Photograph
See the winners here. Above is a recent photograph of Chateau Boswell, a winery, vineyard, and tasting room located in...
‘Upon a Boat, by Ocean Bound’ by Alec Ream
. Upon a boat, by ocean bound, Below the sun, upon the sound, The bait, a line, a reel, a...
‘Ilaria Smiles’ by Lawrence Fray
Ilaria Del Carretto was the second wife of Paolo Guinigi of Lucca. Her sepulchre lies in Lucca’s Duomo San...
Write a Poem on One of These Images
The above photographs were taken and submitted by New York City poet Joe Tessitore. We invite readers to pick one...
Write a Poem on One of These Hong Kong Protest Images
The above images are from the pro-democracy protests going on right now in Hong Kong, as the populace peacefully...
Write a Poem on One of These Photographs
The above photographs were taken and submitted by New York City poet Joe Tessitore. We invite readers to pick one...
Three ‘Imaginary Sonnets’ by Daniel Galef
These poems are part of Daniel Galef’s series Imaginary Sonnets. Each sonnet is a verse soliloquy from the perspective of...
Sonnets on the Arts Today, by Peter Hartley
Poetry Today If elevated thought had ever beenThe least criterion of excellenceIn poetry, why should it then be seenToday...
‘Ancient Melodies’ and Other Poetry by Bruce Dale Wise
(All poetry by Bruce Dale Wise) Ancient Melodies by Ercules Edibwa No longer are they heard, the ancient melodies of...
‘On a Bodegón of Zurbarán’ and Other Poetry by Joseph Charles MacKenzie (with Audio)
LVII. On a Bodegón of Zurbarán From carbon darkness, splendor! Light comes forth. A painter knew the warm fidelity Of...
‘What Rumor, What Word?’ and Other Poetry by Alec Ream
. . What Rumor, What Word? On the featured photo above What rumor, what word, O Cloud from the sea?...
‘Approaching Spring’ and Other Poetry by Alec Ream
. . Approaching Spring Above the mountain, under the sky, Canadian Geese, you hear their cry, Over the mountain, hear...
‘Said the Painter’ and Other Poetry by Alec Ream
. . Said the Painter Upon the mossy stones I dwelt,I did, and was, and painting feltAn arch and angel...
‘Unexpiring’ and Other Poetry by Alec Ream
. Unexpiring Ekphrastic on the above photo Unexpiring constant Sun, Earth untired responding spun, Surging fire, maternal birth, Urgent sire...
‘Metaphysical Mortar’ and Other Poetry by Alec Ream
. . Metaphysical Mortar Between the cobalt and the blueGlean gestalt and sum of trueAll and each be more than...
Thank you all for your thoughtful comments. I appreciate each one!
Bruce, the painting is very much worth consideration, both its particulars and the essence less easy to define. You have…
I should add, the gifts Nature unstintingly provides are what we customarily call Providence.
In the first poem, I think the author is onto something. Nature (Creation) is a balm for every trouble; it…
And the aid of rarer, more valuable, more desirable, lastingly iconic art. Confirmed antidote to toxins too common.
