The Real Vincent Van Gogh Poem by Sylvia Frances Chan

The Real Vincent Van Gogh

here speaks the truth

he was not famous like after his death

not a single painting sold

one subject followed the other subject

he practiced in all subjects
he always failed
that was because he couldn't hold attention for long

Vincent was not one hundred percent mentally healthy
How is that possible?
Vincent was born exactly one year after the eldest child was stillborn
his mother's grief about this death was very deep
in such a climate Vincent grew up
from a toddler till a teen

on the same date exactly one year later,
Vincent felt he was the reason for this great grief
can you imagine that Vincent had not become mentally stable?

He came from a wealthy family, his father was a preacher,
Vincent was given all the opportunities in the world
to do a good job,
but every time he failed,

painting lessons with his own uncle in The Hague,
no follow-ups
become a pastor in a church recommended by his father,
soon he left the church

eventually, he wanted to go to Paris to paint,
but he became homeless there and drank absinthe
that was the worst, pure alcohol but the cheapest
he could not afford ordinary wine

Because he had Theo, he could take care of his daily needs
and rent a room to sleep
in order to paint as cheaply as possible,
he bought the cheapest brushes

which are they?
made of pig bristles and very short-haired,
not the very expensive ones made of squirrel fur or sable hair

Thanks to his brother Theo, Vincent was sent money
but during his lifetime he had not sold a single painting

After his death, all the paintings ended up with his sister-in-law,
she could only sell one for only 60 francs
The Netherlands has now given Vincent van Gogh his own museum
Too bad he didn't experience that in his lifetime

we know about that famous museum,
but not Vincent, he is long dead
that makes me very very sad

an admirer of Vincent

©Sylvia Frances Chan -- All Rights Reserved
WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2022