Vincent saw the energy in things!
His painting of the starry, starry night
with its whirling, swirling vortexes of light
and the live trees and hills responding
in echoing, answering, pulsating life –
aflame with life! – is more real to my eyes
than the most exact photograph. He caught
the inner truth of all that surrounds us,
supports us, wraps us, feeds us: our Mother
Nature, powerful Goddess, creator
of the burgeoning Universe. In his day,
too few understood what he showed. Yet
he went on painting truth. What more
can anyone do than express whatever
understanding is given, whatever vision?
Perhaps he demonstrates how to look deep,
how to look far, how to see both in and beyond.
(Image in public domain.)
Written for Friday Writings #106: 'Starry, Starry Night' at Poets and Storytellers United.
Thank you, Rosemary, for the nice prompt. You told it sooo well here, his pictures warrant a nice descriptive setting like you have shown. When I think of van Gogh, even the starry night, it reminds me of our trip to St. Remy, Provence, France, where he was locked up for a bit while he healed from the ear cutting. Also to get him into a better mind. He painted from memory and what he could see from his barred window, hence Starry Night. That treatment didn't last long, within a year he was dead, suicide, at age 37.
ReplyDelete..
Yes, his is a very sad story. Yet what wonderful works he has left us!
DeleteWhat more / can anyone do than express whatever / understanding is given, whatever vision? - that is so true, so deep. To know our own truth and then be able to express it is a precious gift... and like that painting, it opens us and everyone who see it, to new energies. Beautiful thought.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteSpot on Gorgeous poem with truth spoken So proud of this Dutch artist
ReplyDeleteYour own poem on the subject is very gorgeous too.
DeleteYes, indeed, beyond impressionism, the vivid intensity of his work appears to be an urge, perhaps even frustration, to show something far deeper and broader than what the human eye sees.
ReplyDeleteYes!
DeleteKnowing the back story to this painting makes it all the more beautiful and compelling. Love this line from your insightful poem "What more can anyone do than express whatever understanding is given, whatever vision?
ReplyDeleteI think that idea resonates with all who are engaged in artistic expression of any kind (smile).
DeleteHe was the master of inner truth, so sadly misunderstood in his time. I tried to leave a comment of your website but it wouldn't let me, Maybe I'll go back and try again. I wanted to congratulate you on the launch of your three books ( I never realized you had a website) and I love the idea of bundling them in a red ribbon Very cool! Good Luck!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Yvonne. I disabled comments at my (blog being used as a) website but cannot stop the instruction to post comments from appearing. Perhaps I should allow them. Thank you very much for the congratulations and good wishes!
DeleteOh, I always forget that you're in Australia. Cheers down under!
ReplyDeleteSmile.
DeleteThank you for this gorgeous prose poem ... it's perfectly perfect.
DeleteThank you, dear Helen. It's lovely to know it is that for you.
DeleteSo well expressed, that's a great understanding of a lovely painting
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jossina. I'm glad you find it so.
Delete"Perhaps he demonstrates how to look deep,
ReplyDeletehow to look far, how to see both in and beyond."
I believe this is exactly what he intended. Beautiful, Rosemary!
Nice to know you perceive that too.
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