A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace. CONFUCIUS

Friday 11 November 2016

Van Gogh's Ear

Bernadette Murphy's recent book, Van Gogh's Ear: the True Story, inspired this poem.

Van Gogh's Ear

I am not here. Already I’ve moved out
from studio to street, from charcoal grey
into chrome orange and cochineal,
from yellow house to whorehouse. Gabrielle,
that poor maid, mops the floor
the painted ladies pockmark with scuffed heels.
I pity her bare arms, her rabid flesh
scarred by the cauterising iron,
and pull her by the wrist into the light,
the burning light of cobalt blue Provence.

I place a ragged parcel in her hands.
She shudders and says nothing, but receives
the gift with grace, clutching it to her breast
in reverence, and I am like a god —
I’m Jesus Christ, and gentle Gabrielle
is Mary Magdalene. I stagger through
the blinding streets of Arles and cross the Rhône,
rave in the cornfields just beyond the town.
Vermilion blood runs down my cheek like tears.
But I’m not here. I have already flown
by crow’s path over waving cypresses
and under whirling stars I lay me down.

6 comments:

am said...

Thank you, again, Robert.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I have just been bought this book for my birthday Robert and am looking forward to reading it.

johnthebarman said...

A good poem. The story also inspired me when I saw it on TV.

The Solitary Walker said...

Thanks for reading, everyone.

Amanda Summer said...

Raving in cornfields, waving cypresses and whirling stars - you paint van Gogh's images with your words.

The Solitary Walker said...

Thanks for your comment, Amanda!