Home » Poems » Mark Toney » Munch On This - 'Love and Pain' 1895

Notes About The Poem

June 30, 2023

~4th Place (shared)~ Ekphrasis Edvard Munch Poetry Contest | Sponsored by Dilly Dally

Edvard Munch, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Love and Pain. (2023, June 24). in WikipediA

Edvard Munch originally titled this 1895 painting "Love and Pain." Munch himself always claimed it was "just a woman kissing a man on the neck." The story goes that Munch's friend, the Polish poet and critic named Stanislaw Przybyszewski was the first to call the painting "Vampire." Both names have followed the painting to this day.

* * *

Munch on This - 'Love and Pain' 1895

Munch On This - 'Love and Pain' 1895

At first glance ...
Amid turbulent strokes
and vivid hues,
eyes mesmerized by
maiden's molten-red mane—
Love and Pain

Gently kissing
her lover's nape
in tender embrace,
while Pain's
lurking specter
overshadows their
intimate space,
threatening Love's
fragile grace

Second glance ...
Gent's deathlike pallor
portrays a chilling
alternative motif.
Is love really her goal, or
is she nosferatu feasting
on a submissive soul?
Dark eyes reflect the
lurking specter's desire—
Vampire

artlovepainperspectiveekphrasis

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John Hamilton

Date: 8/18/2023 9:51:00 AM

Wow Mark this is truly creative, enjoyed!

Mark Toney
Date: 8/18/2023 10:44:00 AM

Thanks, John. You made my day!

Regina Mcintosh

Date: 7/26/2023 12:35:00 AM

Amazingly done. Endlessly creative as was munch. Congratulations and God bless you- love, Gina

Mark Toney
Date: 7/26/2023 1:24:00 PM

Thank you, kind Gina, for your encouraging words!

Sam Kauffman

Date: 7/20/2023 10:14:00 AM

Amazing journey into the depths of this painting, Mark! You have exposed the person of both figures effortlessly as you transition from one stanza to the next. Wonderful imagery. Congratulations on your win! Blessings!

Mark Toney
Date: 7/21/2023 8:00:00 PM

Thank you, Sam. You made my day!

Hat Bueckert

Date: 7/16/2023 10:42:00 AM

I like the molten red mane, words that seem to have jumped out of his painting. Well done

Mark Toney
Date: 7/16/2023 5:21:00 PM

I agree. Her red hair was the first thing I noticed. Thanks for stopping by, Hat.

Joanna Daniel

Date: 7/15/2023 7:21:00 AM

A great poem on a great painting, awesome vocabulary, love the short lines, Mark, congratulations:)

Mark Toney
Date: 7/15/2023 6:17:00 PM

Joanna, you know all the right things to say! Much appreciated :)

Valsa George

Date: 7/14/2023 9:20:00 PM

Two ways of looking at Munch's painting... two lovers in ardent embrace, the woman gently kissing her lover's nape. She with her dishevelled red hair looks frenzied by love's intensity. But another image emerges.... a vampire sucking a man's blood leaving him famished and pale. You have indeed expanded the viewer's range of artistic appreciation of this painting... and also captured the veiled intent of the artist. Wonderful job, dear Mark. Congratulations on your great win.

Mark Toney
Date: 7/14/2023 11:50:00 PM

Dear Valsa, i appreciate your clear summation and words of encouragement.

Suzette Richards

Date: 7/14/2023 7:53:00 PM

I like the likeness of "molten-red mane" setting the tone for woman devouring man - a fresh look at a familiar theme. Congratulations, Mark! BTW I take it that your reference in the title is a play on words "Munch" = "to chew". But his name is pronounced to rhyme with "stoonk" ... just saying :)

Suzette Richards
Date: 7/15/2023 2:46:00 AM

A man after my own heart ... I love kicking over the traces as well :)

Mark Toney
Date: 7/14/2023 9:14:00 PM

Suzette, thank you for stopping by with your kind encouragement. Also, I’ve known the correct pronunciation of Munch for some time now, but I just can’t resist the visual play on words. So the title of each of my poems on Munch begin with “Munch on This …” I just can’t help it ;)

John Watt

Date: 7/14/2023 7:52:00 PM

Perhaps Przybyszewski was onto something... her red hair does look suspiciously like blood running down his head. Munch's style is always emotionally evocative and you captured that mood so well, Mark. Congratulations on your strong finish ~ John

Mark Toney
Date: 7/14/2023 9:26:00 PM

John, thank you for your thoughtful and encouraging comments.

Christuraj Alex

Date: 7/14/2023 6:44:00 PM

"Pain's lurking specter overshadows their intimate space" - A beautiful portrayal. Congratulations!

Mark Toney
Date: 7/14/2023 6:54:00 PM

Thank you for your kind encouragement, Christuraj.

Robert Lindley

Date: 7/3/2023 8:11:00 AM

Wow! You gave us a grade A poem my good friend. A hungry vampire feasting, I like that. A fav... God bless.

Mark Toney
Date: 7/3/2023 9:28:00 AM

Thanks for stopping by, Robert, and for the FAV. I'm still working through your blog on Shelley ;) Take care!

I Am Anaya

Date: 6/30/2023 10:04:00 AM

Thank you for this masterful Ekphrasis on a controversial art piece! Munch painted six different versions. I love the long flame-red hair. Munch on this, best for a win!

Mark Toney
Date: 6/30/2023 12:20:00 PM

You are very welcome, Anaya! I appreciate your comment.

Munch On This - 'Love and Pain' 1895

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