Poetry Challenge The Arnolfini Marriage

It’s day 7 of the my personal challenge to blog each day for a week on Bookstains.  As I haven’t put a poetry challenge on for a long time I thought that today was a good as time as any.  The Arnolfini Portrait is a very famous painting, painted on oak panel by Dutch artist Jan Van

Poetry Challenge: And then he/she kissed me

This poetry challenge is based upon the very famous painting by Gustave Klimt – ‘The Kiss.  This iconic painting with its rich layers of gold and stylish sensuous lines emits opulence. “The woman is especially depicted by turn as emotional joy bringer, temptress and child bearer.  The bodies fused together as one emphasis their unity.

Happy Birthday Edward Lear! Plus Poetry Challenge ‘Stuff and Nonsense’ Limerick

Today is the birthday of English poet, artist and  illustrator Edward Lear (1812 – 1888).  He is is most famous for his limericks which became very popular and his literary nonsense writing.  Among other poems ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’ is probably one of his more famous.  He started his working life as an artist and illustrator and in

Poetry Challenge ‘Favorite (or least favorite Things)

This poetry challenge is based upon a poem (well a bit of tomfoolery) I wrote ages ago and forgot about.  But the idea for the challenge was inspired by Jesssica’s Japes wonderful poem ‘My Least Favorite things’.  The challenge is simple – just write a poem to the tune/rhythm of the song from ‘The Sound of Music inspired by

Poetry Challenge ‘American Gothic’

    ‘It’s American Regionalist artist Grant Wood‘s birthday today and it’s being celebrated over on Echostains!  American Gothic is one of the most iconic painting in the USA.  Much has been written about this painting, but in some ways it remains an enigma.  To read about the artist Grant Wood please see my corresponding

‘Happy Birthday Robert Burns!’ and Poetry Challenge

Yes it’s Burns night!  Another opportunity to celebrate the life of the great Scottish poet Robert Burns b.25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796.  He is known by many names from  The Bard of Ayrshire to the ploughman’s poet.  He is especially famous for writing in the Scots language, though he has also written in a lighter more accessible one.  His

Poetry Challenge ‘The Hepworth Echo’

This challenge could prove to be a real challenge as it takes an  abstract form of sculpture as its source of  inspiration.  But what are thoughts – if not abstractions?   and where does inspiration come from anyway?  The challenge is to write a poem or Haiku about what I have entitled ‘The Hepworth Echo’ – using

Poetry Challenge ‘The Art of Progress’

  Adam Dustus who has a wonderful poetry blog kindly suggested a poetry challenge which featured this painting – The Coinnoissoir’ by Norman Rockwell.  I have called the challenge ‘The Art of Progress’ because of the corresponding post I wrote over on Echostains – which also provides a link for this challenge. Clicking any of the paintings will

I Dwell in Miss Havisham’s House

               I was trying to get an expression of light and dark – life and death into this poem.  Miss Havisham (Great Expectations) pays the young Pip money to see him play with her ward, the beautiful Estella. Well aware that the young boy is in awe of the girl, she watches Estella,

Poetry Challenge: Mona Lisa’s Smile

This poetry challenge is about the smile of the famous Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo Da Vinci.  The lady’s smile (and it has been said that she may not be all ‘she’ seems) is one of the most enigmatic smiles ever painted. To submit your poem or haiku which can be as profound, humorous, long or short as you like,