Vincent Van Gogh 77 - Vincent! hurry Up & Sell! Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

Whoever Vincent met in The Hague,
Be it the critical Mijnheer Tersteeg,
Or Cousin Mauve or even De bock,
They had only one thing to tell him:
'Hurry up Vincent, sell your painting!
You must think of earning your bread.
It is not right to live on another man's money.'
All of them knew that Vincent was supported by Theo.

Vincent wrote to his uncle Cor inviting him
To visit him in his unassuming studio.
Vincent's Uncle Cornelius Marinus Van Gogh
A reputed art dealer with much experience,
Had strong features of Van Gogh family
The high brow, sturdy jaw bones and powerful nose.
One Sunday afternoon, while Vincent was engaged in
In a party for the children, Uncle Cor knocked at the door.

Uncle Cor took in every detail of Vincent's humble studio.
Vincent offered him some tea, black bread and coarse cheese.
When Uncle had sipped some tea, he said:
'Tersteeg tells me that Theo is sending you
A hundred francs a month? Theo is young, and he should
Save his money. You aught to be earning your own bread.'
Vincent's brain was already disturbed
With Tersteeg's earlier comments.

Now, Uncle Cor's comment ignited his brain like fire.
Vincent retorted back angrily:
' Earn bread, Uncle Cor? How do you mean that?
Earn bread or deserve bread?
Not to deserve one's bread, that is to say to be unworthy of it.
That certainly is a crime for every honest man worthy of his bread.
But unluckily, not being able to earn it, though deserving it,
That is a misfortune and a great one'

Isn't Money a clever player?
Money is means to an end,
Not an end by itself.
But without money,
You will drown in the ocean of sorrows!
Money determines your status in society,
If wealthy, you are respected and worshipped,
If penniless, you are targeted, condemned and doomed!

A Biographical Poem