An update from our fortieth Writing Workshop with Conner Bassett A summary of the workshop held on Saturday, June 4 This week, Emma Hoff, 10, led workshop with her own interpretation of ekphrasis, a favorite topic of the Stone Soup workshops. For the workshop portion, Emma presented us with the following three paintings and their accompanying ekphrastic interpretations. The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso — “The Man with the Blue Guitar” by Wallace Stevens. These two are different in that Stevens’ poem speaks of a blue guitar yet the only thing that isn’t blue in Picasso’s painting is the guitar. This is because Stevens speaks of a symbolic blue. Both works express modes/moods of sadness, or blueness. Hunters in the Snow by Pieter Bruegel the Elder — “Hunters in the Snow” by William Carlos Williams. WCW literally describes the painting, even references the painter. How does his reference of the painter affect the poem? Well, like the painting, which is crammed with details, William Carlos Williams crams his poem with details. House by the Railroad by Edward Hopper — “Edward Hopper and the House by Railroad” by Edward Hirsch. He, like WCW, is incorporating the painter. Hirsch really gets enamored with the painter. He’s kind of antagonistic towards Edward Hopper. After she’d shown us these three paintings and we together came up with interpretations, she asked us to choose between three more paintings in order to write an ekphrastic story/poem. The Challenge: Write an ekphrasis story/poem about either People at the Zoo, The Dream, or The Peasant Wedding The Participants: Emma (presenter), Lina, Anna, Jolene, Josh, Elbert, Fatehbir, Ellie, Samantha, Chelsea, Alice, Advika, Shiva
Stone Soup Magazine for young readers, writers, and artists
Frost (Portrait of Madame X): A Series in Ekphrasis by Ella Yamamura, 14
The Face of Winter She stands— a frozen flower; frostbitten. A gaze that could wither the sturdiest tree is aimed at the right. Bull’s eye. With skin fairer than Snow White, the Face of Winter ignores all else while being trapped within her dark restraints that weigh her down— the only thing keeping her from blowing away and snapping in half. What a brittle, frostbitten little flower. The Face of Winter she stands— a frozen flower frostbitten. Frost-covered frost living a dream.
Break-Up Letter to 2021
Jacqueline Gonzalez, 13 (Hoboken, NJ) Break-Up Letter to 2021 Jacqueline Gonzalez, 13 Dear 2021, I’m not exactly sure how to say this, and I am sorry if this hurts you, but I think we should break up. We had great times together, like when we finally finished my family’s lake house. You even let me see my friends during our summer on the boat – something 2020 never let me do. We also got to attend my sister’s wedding and have one of the best days ever. From all of our memories together, I think my favorite was when you let me walk into school for the first time in almost two years! Though we had some great times and memories together, I realized that I need to put myself first for once. While you treated me much better than 2020 ever did, there are too many things that made me want to leave and never turn back. You sent your friend, Omicron, over to my house without letting me know, ruining New Year’s for my family and me (talk about obsessive)! You also made my parents cancel our Disney trip again, because you were hanging out with your friend Delta. You always thought that joking around and messing with people’s lives was fine, but here’s a little advice: it’s not okay to mess with people’s lives, especially mine! I know this won’t be easy to hear, but I met someone else. 2022 has so much more to offer and has promised me a good year to come. They provided me the opportunity to take a writing class to help me with the book I’ve tried to write throughout our relationship. 2022 also offered to fix the sleep schedule you helped ruin. Most importantly, 2022 offered me more time with friends and family that I haven’t seen, no thanks to your friends Omicron and Delta. 2021, it’s time for me to say my final goodbye. I’d say I hope you find a better partner, but let’s be honest, there’s no other partner better than me. So goodbye 2021, I hope you have a good life—without me! Best of Luck, Jacqueline
