By Marcia LeBeau / August 25, 2026
It has been an ekphrastic month for the Tuesday Morning Poets at The WAE Center. Ekphrastic meaning— a work of art inspired by another work of art. In our case, a poem inspired by a painting or a photograph.
In addition to writing poems inspired by members’ artwork hanging on The WAE Center walls, the group decided they wanted to take part in the Rattle Ekphrastic Poetry Challenge. Each month the literary journal, Rattle, posts a work of art online and writers send in poems in response to the piece and two winners are chosen.
Here is the July piece of art for the challenge and some of the dynamic responses that were submitted to the contest. The poets are ready to win with Gigi exclaiming, “We have a winner!” after her poem was read to the group. Regardless of the outcome, the mere fact that we are creating art makes us all winners.
The Cares of the World
by Gionna F.
On a dark night, the cream and brown
corded phone, ringing off the hook, laying
on the couch, stress from the cares of the world,
meditating, the door buzzer kept ringing. The glare
of the moonlight sparkles. The diamond on my finger,
the sounds of people fussing, the extra hand
of my imagination feels like gravity dragging me down
the wind beating though the windows, the swaying curtains
moving in rhythms as I wonder off into slumber.
Tired, I’m So Tired
by Patrick M.
Of waiting on this phone call.
It’s giving me an excruciating headache.
Ahhhh, I’m tired of sitting on this couch.
Tired, I’m so tired.
Her
by Kevin C.
I feel like the lady is scared
of the robber will call her to come in
and take her phone and like a huge gravity
will pull her off her sofa and take her up
in the scary alien night air floating on
the scary 80s colorful whoopy
spaceship.