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Friday, June 1, 2012

Vampire

Vampire - Edvard Munch, 1894


Her seduction is subtle,
A tender vapor drifting
Through the crevices of his soul,
Her innocent demeanor
Masking a coquette with fangs.
Her words of love eternal
Are easily believed,
And another willing victim
Volunteers for his own demise,
One more withered corpse
Desecrated and discarded
On her path into immortality.


~~~ This was written for a prompt over at Poetry Jam asking for poetry inspired in some way by painting.  I decided to write an ekphrastic poem inspired by the painting Vampire by Edvard Munch, 1894.

10 comments:

Mary said...

Yikes, Mary, you certainly created a vivid picture ("one more withered corpse")with your words; even more vivid than the painting on which it was based. I wonder if you like books / movies like the Twilight series or Ann Rice stuff. I personally can't read that kind of thing, but I know 'vampire theme' books have quite a following.

Mary B. Mansfield said...

Actually, I tried reading the Twilight books and did not like them at all. Wasn't really able to get into Ann Rice the last time I gave her a whirl but have been meaning to try again. And I can't handle most scary movies at all...I end up having nightmares. Not exactly sure where all these dark visions of mine come from, but I've learned never to argue with a willing muse, even if she is a little bit twisted.

Mary said...

Interesting, Mary. I agree that you have to follow the muse. Mine sometimes leads me along unexpected paths as well. (Especially when I write wordles...LOL.)

Grace said...

I like the subtle seduction, that the victim is willing to die for her immortality ~

Enjoyed the poetic vampire post ~

Let the muse have a ball, I say :-)

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Wow, a vampire poem. Well done!

Peggy said...

I actually enjoyed many of the earlier Ann Rice books, but the latest vampire stuff seems too much like teen romance. I like scary books much better than scary movies. Interesting that Munch did a vampire painting--and your poem is even more vivid than the painting.

Helen said...

Female as vampire ... love it!

my heart's love songs said...

i loved the earlier Anne Rice books, too. i was forced to read the Twilight books {i'm the official family-reader-of-potentially-unappropriate-for-grandchildren books.}

this is a divine example of an ekphrastic poem, Mary! i like much of Munch's art.

thank you for participating!


dani

Semaphore said...

I know and love this painting by Edvard Munch, it was one of my trial covers for my "Sonata Vampirica" sonnet series! I can't remember if you read my sonnets from this, but they use the vampire as a metaphor for something entirely different.

In any case, you did well with this ekphrastic, capturing the essence of the painting. There are actually many versions of this painting, including several drawings, and it's amazing the difference in emotional impact you get from the different versions.

Christine said...

nice, like a tender vapor drifting