Peter Steele discusses the tradition of ekphrastic poems tracing their origin to the Grrek word '
ekphrasis which means literally "speaking forth", the idea being that the poem puts to language, and this in a sense publishes in a new way, the painting or sculpture or other artwork which has existed previously in its own right and on its own terms.' To illustrate his discussion Steele examines Peter Porter's
'Basta Sangue'.