Vincent Van Gogh 53 - Intangible Nature Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

Vincent Van Gogh 53 - Intangible Nature

Rating: 5.0


Vincent felt nature is intangible;
An artiste must be perceptible,
And sensitive to nature's elusive character.
To copy it into paper is not easy,
One has to seize it with a strong hand.

As Vincent fully immersed himself with nature,
He became a part of nature's mystery,
His vision was superior to any others,
He was able to perceive vibrant colours in nature,
While the villagers, never could comprehend his vision.

One day, while Vincent was seated in the woods,
Painting a large pinewood being cut down,
And a lone tree standing by the creek,
A labourer clearing away the woods came,
Stood over Vincent's shoulders to watch him.

But the man was not quietly watching Vincent,
He made jeering sounds, laughed and scoffed.
Vincent wanted to know what amused the man.
He asked him: " What is so funny about drawing a tree? "
The man replied: " Yes, it is funny. You are a ‘Fou'! "

Vincent was angry and disturbed.
He fired the labourer with a series of questions.
"Would I be fou, if I planted a tree?
Would I be fou, if I tended the tree and took care of it?
Would I be fou, if I picked the fruit off?
Well then, would I be fou, if I chopped the tree down?
Then, I can plant a tree, tend it, pick it, and cut it down,
But if I draw one, I am a fou. Is that right?
The peasant unmoved, broke into his broad grin again.
Yes! You must be fou, to sit there like that.
All the village says so."

A Biographical Poem

Vincent Van Gogh 53 - Intangible Nature
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Topic(s) of this poem: art,artistic work,love and art,personality,perception
POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
These poems are biographical poems on the famed painter- Vincent Van Gogh. All information on Vincent Van Gogh is taken and is based on two great books - ‘Lust for life' & ‘Dear Theo' - a biography and an autobiography respectively, penned by the famed American Author - Irving Stone. Dear friends and Poets, Thank you so much for reading this series on Vincent Van Gogh's life. I am ever grateful to all the poets who are reading these poems. I do hope you will continue to read them. Ever obliged for your kind comments. The word ‘Fou' means drunk, inebriated, in American English dictionary. In French language, it means irrational or foolish. It also means crazy or mad in other languages and used as a slang. Picture: Vincent Van Gogh - Path in the woods - 1887
COMMENTS OF THE POEM

" He became a part of nature's mystery" We could read this in his paintings. The best episode of the series so far! Great work Geeta. Top score!

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Rose Marie Juan-austin 07 February 2023

An ordinary layman could never fathom the passion of an extraordinary artist. To them, too much immersion into something , is a deviation of the normal behavior.

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Rose Marie Juan-austin 07 February 2023

A beautiful biographical poem that wonderfully and brilliantly depicts how Van Gogh became an extraordinary painter by immersing himself with nature.

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Rose Marie Juan-austin 07 February 2023

Another well expressed and presented biographical poem. Very inspiring. Thank you for sharing, Dr. Geeta.

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Rajnish Manga 08 February 2023

The dialogue between Vincent and the labourer reflect their respective yet conflicting backgrounds. Thanks.

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Chinedu Dike 06 August 2024

Very powerfully and clearly depicted.

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Richard Wlodarski 19 March 2023

And we must all be 'fous' for writing poetry. So be it! I'd rather be a 'fou' writing poetry than a 'fou' watching TV all day long!

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Indira Renganathan 10 February 2023

A great contribution to PH by Dr.Geeta....interesting, informative and highly inspiring...I amamazed at your dedicated service to poetry...wish you all the best for a happy life

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MAHTAB BANGALEE 09 February 2023

superb and fantastic writings on the great artistic picture; just love this

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Rajnish Manga 08 February 2023

I appreciate your idea of attaching images of artist's paintings with poems.

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