a poem in my pocket

he comes from dutch reformed
family, disappoints (emotionally
distant, bereaved) parents;
as both a preacher and painter,
vincent ministers to peasants,
potato eaters, and sowers;
people of humble cottages.

follow him to france en plein aire;
walk along avenue of poplars,
past red vineyard and white orchard
(smell the blossoming almonds)
into wheat fields with haystacks,
under dark shadows of cypresses,
to the banks (and boats) of the seine.

admire the light of bedroom in
yellow house or the cafe terrace,
cobalt skies of starry nights, and
dying beauty of golden sunflowers:
feel angst of stark self-portraits
(especially with bandaged ear);
hear gunshot…black crows cawing.

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At dVerse MTB prompt, Bjorn Rudberg encourages us to make a list and write a poem. I made a list of some of Vincent Van Gogh’s (almost 900!) paintings and wrote a poem about the artist’s life.