‘Her Photographs’ Published at Visual Verse!

Her Photographs Published at Visual Verse

I am delighted to share my poem, Her Photographs, is published at Visual Verse in Volume 10, Chapter 4 of the journal’s ongoing monthly anthology.

Visual Verse is an ongoing digital anthology that publishes the best poems written within an hour and submitted in response to the image of the month (February’s prompt pictured above). I have written in response to their original and often provoking images for the past two years and always look forward to what their monthly ekphrastic prompts evoke in me.

Images that at first seem difficult to interpret or impossible to explain excite me the most. I love how hunting for find extraordinary in the ordinary or the mundane in the complicated gives birth to prose that is as original as it is creative.

I also love the challenge of writing a piece within an hour, as it pushes me out of my comfort zone. It motivates me to get in touch with my creativity and write a piece that narrates my personal experience with the monthly image.

The following is an excerpt of my poem, Her Photographs, published at Visual Verse

I smell the smoke
Tangy, heavy with the scent of black cherry honey.

I feel the clay
Baked earth shattered over with sunshine.

I taste the salt
Pigmented with saffron and sprinkled over with wine
. . . please continue reading here and do feel free to share your beautiful thoughts!

Photo by Olga Naida

You Might Also Like

37 Comments

  1. rothpoetry

    What an interesting photo. You have a great response!

  2. merrildsmith

    Congratulations! Beautiful and so evocative.

    I enjoy ekphrastic poetry, too.
    It’s amazing how many people I knew are in this issue. My poem, too. 🙂

    1. Layla Todd

      Lovely news, Merril! It is a wonderful publication.

      1. merrildsmith

        You’re welcome, and it is.

  3. Bridgette

    Congratulations! Beautiful work.

  4. Lia

    Beautiful work – congrats, and what a cool publication!

  5. Cindy Georgakas

    Congratulations Layla on your amazing poem that always delights the senses. 💗

  6. barbaraleaver

    Congrats! Great piece

  7. Belladonna

    Such a feel good poem! Congratulations!

  8. theusedlife

    Congratulations!

  9. Writing to Freedom

    Kudos Layla on your evocative verse being published. I like writing from photo prompts too, but not sure I would like the one hour time limit.

    1. Layla Todd

      It is not much time, but I love how it really motivates me! ❤️

  10. Jeff Flesch

    I always get so many different sensations when reading your beautiful poetry. This one tingles the sense of smell, touch, vision, and sight, and makes me yearn for sunshine, heat, and smokey mountains. Gorgeous write, Layla!

    1. Layla Todd

      Thank you for this ❤️ comment, Jeff!

  11. Raji (@journeyintofantasy)

    Congratulations Layla! It’s amazing that you wrote this in an hour!

  12. Cassa Bassa

    Outstanding as always. Reading your poetry is enchanting. 💚

    1. Layla Todd

      Thank you, Cassa! ❤️

  13. Baydreamer - Lauren Scott

    Congratulations, Layla! Well deserved! That image would definitely present a challenge, especially with a one-hour time limit. But your poem is brilliant and creative. ❤️

    1. Layla Todd

      Thank you for this ❤️ comment, Lauren!

      1. Baydreamer - Lauren Scott

        You’re so welcome, Layla!

  14. Eugenia

    Congratulations, Layla! So well deserved! 💕

  15. Keep Calm & Drink Coffee

    Nostalgia seeds and blossom! I adore these words of yours Layla!

    1. Layla Todd

      Thank you so much, Claudia!

  16. The Sicilian Storyteller

    Congratulations, Layla! Well-deserved! 💫

  17. SelmaMartin

    Heartfelt congratulation, Layla.

  18. Michele Lee

    What a cool concept! You responded brilliantly. Congratulations on your publication, Layla!

  19. D. Wallace Peach

    I can see how this image would be a fun challenge. It’s so odd! Lol. But I love where you went with it. So full of beautiful sensory imagery, Layla. I love that. Well done, and Congrats!

  20. Susi Bocks

    Congratulations, Layla!

  21. Kym Gordon Moore

    Well now, look at you! 👏🏼 Congratulations Layla! 🥂 When inspiration hits, you simply can’t stop the process. Excellent poem my friend. 🥳🎈😎 Let your magic flow!!! 🌟

    1. Layla Todd

      Thank you for sharing this lovely comment! ❤️

      1. Kym Gordon Moore

        Layla, you are so very welcome. I meant every word of it! Cheers! 🥰🥂🤩🦋🤗

  22. haoyando

    I don’t know what to make of it from the picture. And probably it is nostalgia, like what you said. “We create memory”. That’s soooo true. We often modify our memory and twist our history. LOL.

  23. Jacqui Murray

    You have me curious, Layla–how do all of those scents come together!

  24. Grace

    Huge congratulations, dear Layla!!!! More than deserved! Your writing is so melodic and deeply beautiful to read…ALWAYS! Love the imagery to this piece and the distinct flow, you are so talented 🤍🤗

  25. Dawn Pisturino

    Wow! Impressive! Especially if you wrote this in an hour!

  26. Nicole Smith

    Get it! Congratulations!!!!!!

Share your thoughts!

Back to top