well, dear vincent
you are a household name now
you even feature on wall paper
everyone knows about the ear too
they have made movies
written books about you
your work sells for obscene amounts of money
if you were alive now
you would look like this
cool
they say you were obsessed with yellow
people are not obsessed with colours now
they are obsessed with money
we have returned to the dark ages
just think you could be sleeping in this bedroom
with your backdrop wallpaper of beautiful almond blossoms
instead of this one
how about this for a kitchen
better than dining with
the potato eaters
in this one eh?
these dutch lamps fetch a fortune now
i carried one on board as hand luggage
and dislocated my shoulder
on reflection
i think
you were better off
even without a sou
to your name
life is too fast now
no one has time for each other
forget about drinks with the postie
or
madame ginoux
she would charge you for the mending and meals
nowadays
you would miss this
the south of france is not the same
full of tourists ad foreign residents
i found this
doesn't look like one of yours
no one knows about it
it's ok
your secret is safe
Mid week Motif - Poets United
Oooo. What thought, pain, irony--perhaps he was luckier. We are, for sure. His magic art could not have come from luxury--or could it? Perhaps he could have had some money and still have a sensitive soul. I love how this poem keeps working in me.
ReplyDeleteLove this letter to Vincent. Specially the endearing note & also the sneer for those who deserve that.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this so much! It is lucky he lived then, one could survive penniless then. I especially love the picture of him in the sunflower field. How did you do that? It is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWhat an entertaining--and sobering--little tale. Honestly, I think Vincent would be appalled at what has become of his art.
ReplyDeleteOh wow!!! what a write. Wish i had written this
ReplyDeletemuch love...
I wish he could read this letter. He'd love it as I do. He'd also be tickled and thrilled by the pictures, as i am.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this letter and this part especially caught my attention.
ReplyDeletethey say you were obsessed with yellow
people are not obsessed with colours now
they are obsessed with money
most people are obsessed with their cell phones and don't want to take the time to create.
I love the way you have woven the paintings into your epistle, and I echo your sentiments.
ReplyDeleteAnd btw (no dislocated shoulders, but) it was my then hubby who carried one of those on board as hand luggage ... in 1973, on the late flight back from Bali.
Poor Vincent, he only ever sold one painting in his lifetime, yet he is one of the best known artists that everyone delights in. Surely he has a smile on his face now?
ReplyDeleteLove your reflection and so true people like billets now better than yellow. I enjoyed the comparison of modern and Vincent's time. I think in between his episodes of depression Vincent was pretty happy and that ear..they don't even know if it was him or Gauguin who did it. Oh and I love the cafe terrace at night I've got a poster of it. My parents had friends in the place he was born. I am rambling but I enjoyed this and I love Vincent's work
ReplyDeletePossibly the best unprintable poem I've ever read online...I know some printers would print the pictures, but not the ones I use. Clever idea anyway. Lovely pictures!
ReplyDelete