Narcissi and Violets/Fleurs du Printemps, by Jean-François Millet
Sourced from Wikimedia Commons
Ekphrastic poetry doesn’t have a set structure but it’s all about description. It’s come to mean a detailed look at a piece of art but started by being just about describing something in beautiful specific detail.
A Nod to the Narcissus
When winter draws long and the days are bleak
The grasses wither and die
There’s no color in an unbroken streak
Just bare earth, bare trees, bare sky.
Then early on, when spring’s first light
Caresses on the ground,
The narcissus bursts forth, tall and bright,
To let its joy resound.
No subtle hue, no dainty blush,
This flower does not hide,
But bold in its primernal rush
Opens yellow petals wide.
While on the ground, green leaves reach out
And open golden eyes.
The violet wakes not with a shout,
But sees spring with surprise.
Is it that time? Are we awake?
Can we come out to play?
Then sprawling out, more sun to take
They revel in the day.
These early flowers brave the chill
And sometimes even frost
Of early spring, when winter still
Has not its tight hold lost
But slowly, like ink dropped upon
A paper blank and white
The color leaks out and ere long
The land is glowing bright.
Intellectual Property of Elizabeth Doman
Feel free to share via link
Do not copy to other websites or skim for AI training
