Did you know that poetry or songs based on art are called "ekphrastic poems?" Think of Don McLean's song "Vincent" or Green Day's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." Both of these songs are inspired by famous painting, and therefore they are "ekphrastic." The poem below is based on
Early Light by Vincent Ceglia from the Art on the Move program.
In the following poem, note how the ambiguous imagery in the poem inspires clear revelations in the poet. Also observe his excellent use of personification.
The Colors of War
Early Light,
Blues,
yellows, and orange,
Fight.
The weak
cyan and turquoise,
Retreat in
defeat,
As the deep blue rushes onwards in protest,
Smothering
the feeble armies of green and yellow.
The smoke
clears,
And the fighting
resumes.
The air is
filled with the sounds of battle,
The ground
beneath the soldier’s feet,
Begins to
rattle.
Fallen
warriors,
Are buried
under fresh new paint.
New colors
emerge,
In the
shadows of others.
Inert,
The soldiers
stand still, steady, strong, and ready.
Red blood of
the fallen warriors,
Oozes down
to the bottom of the battlefield.
The yellow
army,
Is engulfed
in blue,
And the
colors blend to create a new hue.
Green,
orange, red, blue, and yellow,
Finally
settle as the fight comes to a close,
And the wet
paint dries.
The
masterpiece is finally completed,
And the artist
stands proud and tall, admiring his work of art.
Blues,
yellows, and orange fight.
Early Light.
by Dylan J.
Early Light by Vincent Ceglia
