Reading the Van Gogh Mind
Sea at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
Van Gogh sat staring at the choppy waters
Nothing yet? His brother asked. He did not reply.
He was in artist mode.
Picked up a brush and began
Splashing white capped waves
Hostile swirling wind especially above fishing boat
Angry storm began taking form
So angry the sails were gone from the boat
Van Gogh was in another world; he could hear no one
Bright titanium white horse emerged at the water’s edge
dark delivery wagon and loan figure made a solid contrast
Van Gogh began using wider curvier strokes,
blending one color after another in ombre fashion
His ideas coming faster and faster now
The sky began taking on new colors, new shades, new hues.
He added a reflection of the boat in the water
Five women waiting for their men on shore
A field of wheat leaning toward the west, torn up by the wind.
It was a furious painting, stormy and magnificent.
He painted this in 1888, the eight such painting
this year, and one of his favorites.
But of course he was not satisfied with it.
So he had to create another one.
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