Melissa here from Mom With a Blog. How are we all doing today? For today’s prompt, I’d like to do something a bit different, influenced by my own experience.
We’ll use the honor system, I won’t know if you follow the instructions or not. For today’s prompt, if you choose to accept your mission, I’d like you to choose one artwork to write about. Don’t look ahead to the end of the post!
I’ll add a divider before Mr. Linky, and give you a clear indication of what not to scroll past.
Instructions (Part I):
- Choose one artwork to write about.
- Write an ekphrastic piece incorporating color (or its lack).
- Incorporate any feelings the art evokes in you.
- Give the artwork a story.
- After you’ve written your poem, before you link up, head down to the bottom of the page for further instructions.
🛑STOP!! DO NOT SCROLL PAST THIS POINT.🛑
🛑STOP!! DO NOT SCROLL PAST THIS POINT.🛑
Instructions (Part II)
- Before you link up, please read this article about artist Emil Nolde.
- After you read, I want you to look at the art again, with new eyes. You may choose to simply answer the following questions, use them as starting points for an ‘after’ poem, or do nothing at all.
- I’d like to know: Are the colors and feelings the same? Does the artwork have a new story? And, finally, are we separate from what we create?
- When you are finished, please enter your poem into Mr. Linky below.⬇️
If you’re new, here is how to join us:
- Write a poem in response to the prompt.
- Enter your name and a link directly to the post containing your poem into Mr. Linky. Remember to check the box to accept use/privacy policy.
- Read other poets’ work as they enter their links into Mr. Linky. Check back as more will be added.
- Please link back to dVerse from your post.
- Have a wonderful time!🎉
‼️Mr. Linky will remain open until 3pm EST on Thursday, February 20, 2025.‼️
List of works featured in this post:
- Forest Path (1909), Emil Nolde, oil on canvas
- Irises and Poppies, Emil Nolde
- Stormy Sea, Emil Nolde, watercolor, paper
- Prophet (1912), Emil Nolde, woodcut, paper
dVerse 
Good evening poets and thank you Melissa for hosting with an ekphrastic prompt and an interesting article. Unfortunately, I’m still unwell, but I hope to be back in the morning to read and comment.
I hope you feel better, Kim!
Thanks Melissa. I had a little something to eat this evening and it’s upset my stomach again. It seems that everything I eat has an adverse effect.
😔
Somewhat better this morning…
Hello, everyone! It’s cold in Pennsylvania, so I’ve prepared some Butternut Squash Soup. We also have Lobster Bisque. We have Nutella Hot Chocolate and Chai Tea, with or without spirits. As always, I’ll get you whatever else you like. I hope you’ll find the prompt to be interesting.
Well…THAT was interesting, dear friend!
I hoped so. I wasn’t familiar with the artist. I saw the art beforehand with its own story, and after I learned more about the artist I think I saw it slightly different. More sad. It’s interesting how our perspective changes things.
Even though I wear glasses, I still see things. Would a glass of wine help?
You can try!🍷🍷
I would like a hot bowl of your Butternut Squash Soup, please. What an intriguing prompt, Melissa!
One bowl of soup for you, Lynn.🥣 I am happy you think so.
I have homemade chicken soup!
Yum.😋
🥣
I saw Lisa’s response before I saw this, so it would not have been a surprise, but I already knew that about Nolde, though not in such detail. As I said to her, many artists (and other well-known public figures as well) have lived less-than-stellar lives–well so have I for that matter–it’s often difficult to know where to draw the line. At least for me it is. (K)
This is a very unique prompt, Melissa. I wrote my poem based on the painting. Art speaks beyond the artist. It is sad that he was involved in the Nazi influences of his day, but most people I believe look at the art before the signature. In a world filled with discrimination of every kind, it would be a bit hypocritical to change my view of his art itself, even though I detest the politics and racism he proclaimed. You leave me with an interesting dilemma!
To reject the art based on the artist’s personal choices would be like rejecting the song “Amazing Grace” because the song writer was once a Slave Trader!
But he repented, so it’s not exactly the same.
Yes, I tend to agree with you on that!
😊
Put me down for the lobster bisque, Melissa.
This was a fascinating prompt. I chose my painting before I read the article, which was informative, sad, and repulsive. Thank for this unusual prompt.
Lobster bisque for you, Sara.🥣 I’m glad you found the prompt interesting.
Good morning, Melissa. It is a very intriguing prompt. Let me ponder on my after thoughts before I post.
I’m off to bed. Will read in the morning!😴
Have a good night’s sleep, Melissa. 😊
Hi Melissa, and all! Thank you for the prompt, which was intriguing. I don’t think I’m a fan of such experiments though (for myself, I mean) 😉. When I read the article, I remembered I had read about Nolde before, though I didn’t remember his name. You did include it in the tag though.
Knowing who the artist was does not change my perception of the painting, but it also means I don’t want to promote his work. And while I realize artists of all sorts had and have their flaws, I draw the line at someone who fervently supported Nazis.
Hi Merril. I appreciate that you joined in, even though this isn’t a kind of prompt you prefer.
I decided to take a chance and do the prompt, because I had the same thoughts after learning about the artist (about ‘not promoting’ the work). I did not know him or his work. I found some of the paintings intriguing, and when I learned about him as an artist, questioned whether I should use them or not. From that, this prompt was born.
One of the great things about dVerse is that the hosts come up with so many different types of prompts!
Such an interesting prompt, Melissa. Thank you.
I am happy you thought so.
Hi Melissa, Thank you for a provocative prompt. Always good to be occasionally uncomfortable in my view – speaking for myself. I find in favour of the artist as an artist and that his work as shown here is not in any way promoting his political and cultural position 33- 45. I could take refuge in the fact my chosen piece is 1909 🙂 In my foreword I mention briefly that this dilemma comes up periodically as artists and writers fall from grace.
Hi Paul. You are welcome. I wanted to use the art without knowing anything about the artist. When I learned about him, I was afraid it would upset people if I used the art. So, I decided to explore that thought process and took a risk that I hope did not upset anyone. It seems to have generated good discussion and reflection. Thank you for writing.
Yes, always a risk, but – nothing ventured, nothing gained 🙂 A worthy challenge.
I forgot to add that I read about him years ago and know some of his work, so the don’t scroll instruction was redundant for me 😀
I figured some(one) would know his art. I tagged the prompt with his name, I figured lots of people don’t read the tags.😅
Thank you, Melissa for a very interesting and thought-provoking prompt.
Thanks for joining us!
A fascinating prompt, Melissa! The article lent so much backstory to the art you chose … his history. Making poetry an even more so intriguing challenge. I will have a large wine glass of Pinot Grigio please. Going to ponder now, glass in hand.
Hello, dear Helen. Enjoy the wine!🍷
So sorry I could not link up today… I have been eveining business and will be so for the rest of the week (I will miss Thursday as well)… sorry y’all
No worries, Björn! See you soon.
Interesting prompt. I know and (used to) love Nolde’s work. I had no idea he was a Nazi. No way I can appreciate his work the same way. Was the same with Picasso. When I learned of his abuse of women I dismissed his work entirely. Roman Polanski too. There are many. I’d like to do something with this but it will have to be later. Busy with ‘stuff’!
Thank you for stopping by! The prompt will be open to link up until 3pm tomorrow.
Good afternoon, poets!
Thank you for the daring prompt, Melissa! What a head-twister! I’ll take a bottle of bergundy to go with one of your soups: surprise me! 😉
Good afternoon! I hope your head didn’t get twisted too far.😵💫 Here you go!🥣🍷🍷🍷
Oops, I’m so sorry, Melissa, I misunderstood the rules and didn’t write to one of the images in the prompt (thought they were optional) and didn’t realize my mistake until Step 2. I went ahead and posted my poem anyway, but am blown away by the idea of revisiting one’s feelings about art from the lens of new knowledge about its creator. I think I’ll just have a cup of coffee tonight so I can ponder.
Here you go, Kim!☕️ I’d never thought about it much before. Taking a chance to repeat myself (since I’ve said it multiple times through the comments, but you might not read them all😅), the idea came to me when I stumbled upon his art and began collecting pictures for this prompt. Then I read about him, and I worried whether posting his art would offend people. That made me stop and reflect.
Thanks for this very thought provoking challenge Melissa and I find myself in agreement with David on this one…
Merril, if you see this, I tried 6 times and myriad ways to comment on your poem. I’ll leave it here and hope you see it:
I liked both of the floral ones, but the other 2 were definitely “off” in my perspective. Your theory is very interesting.
and he blames them
for his tortuous thoughts,
ever the victim of his own self-loathing,
his soul never at peace.