Still Life with Ham – A Poem

I love the challenge of ekphrastic poetry, responding to works of art with words.

This is the start of a series of poetry posts, some more serious than others, in which I engage on food-related themes. I ensure all the artworks are in the public domain, so I don’t infringe on copyright. I hope you respect mine, too.

I also hope you enjoy!

Still Life With Ham

Do you like still life with ham?
Philippe Rousseau, Philippe-I-am?

Yes, Philippe likes still life with ham,
a spot of wine, some bread with jam.

He likes to eat while reading letters,
and Le Figaro – the day’s trend-setters.

A tablecloth, laurel sprig a nod
to Monsieur Desportes’s Still Life with Dog.

So grand, a succulent still life with ham?
Yes, Rousseau, Philippe-I-am.

©elsp 2025

You probably recognised that was an homage to a very popular work – analysis here – specifically using rhyming couplets.

UPDATE: More of my ekphrastic poetry here.

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