Notes About The Poem

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Van Gogh

Well over a hundred years ago
The illustrious Vincent Willem Van Gogh
A genius somewhat like Michelangelo
With thousands of artworks in his cluttered studio
From the sublime to the grotesque for show
Might have been better off working as a gigolo
Because he died a pauper on skid row

In those days artists had no impresario
To make sure they lived high in a chateau
Dining on champagne and escargot
So it was quite a different scenario
That brilliant artists lived totally incognito
Often exchanging a painting for a meal on a patio
Or selling their wares door to door on tiptoe
Carrying under their arm their impressive portfolio

So it was for Vincent Willem Van Gogh
Misunderstood and suffering from vertigo
Mentally unstable and drinking heavily in Bordeaux
Depressed, impulsive and insane – a tragic combo
Cut off a piece of his ear, his sanity was touch and go
A troubled soul, life for him was a wild rodeo
Obsessive passion, far from living the status quo
His life and work intertwined shimmying like a yo-yo

Feeling the stranger, he shot himself overcome with sorrow 
Post mortem everyone wanted to hear the myth of Van Gogh
With his vivid colors of burgundy, ochre and indigo
In his honor every year the orchestra features the oboe
And while the Italians chant magnifico
Everyone else cheers Bravo! Bravo!

How times have changed for poor Van Gogh 
From a mere hundred years ago ~



Read on air by invitation  ~  March 21, 2020  'LATE NIGHT POETS'

AP: 1st place 2026, 2nd place 2021, 3rd place 2025, 3rd place 2022, 3rd place 2021, Honorable Mention 2026, Honorable Mention 2026, Honorable Mention 2022, Honorable Mention 2022, Honorable Mention 2020

Submitted on August 15, 2021 for YOUR BEST MONORHYME contest sponsored by WILLIAM KEKAULA  -  RANKED 1ST

artcelebrityironymental illnessmonorhyme

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Poem

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Greg Gaul

August 21, 2021 at 1:21 PM

Very clever work Line. Each line had me poised to see what you'd do next. It held my interest all the way through, no trivial task. Until the coupe de grasse with that final line using the epitome of the end rhymes with the word "ago". Terrific work.

Line Gauthier

August 21, 2021 at 3:16 PM

Thank you so much for the compliment, Greg ~ most appreciated

William Kelii Kekaula

August 20, 2021 at 9:26 PM

Your apprised accounting parades the assonance of the ... o's, admirably, via its well-appointed words. Blessings, Line, for sharing your perceptive talents, Aloha!

Line Gauthier

August 21, 2021 at 3:46 AM

Thank you so much, William. It was such a fun piece to write ~

Andrea Dietrich

March 21, 2020 at 4:15 PM

Line, I just had to check out this poem for which you will now be celebrated by having it read on a radio show. Way to GO!!! and that's another O!! Congrats, dear friend!

Line Gauthier

August 21, 2021 at 3:45 AM

Thanks, Andrea. It is one of my favorites.

Timothy Mcguire

April 19, 2018 at 3:21 AM

What a terrific poem! You are very talented. I noticed the poem because I paint and I LOVE Van Gogh.

Line Gauthier

April 19, 2018 at 12:53 PM

Awesome. Thanks you so much for your lovely visit and comment, Timothy. Most appreciated.

Kai Michael Neumann

March 10, 2018 at 5:53 AM

Oh, wow. So many O’s in a row. very impressive, Kai

Line Gauthier

March 10, 2018 at 6:08 AM

Thank you for your visit and comment, Kai.

Caren Krutsinger

March 8, 2018 at 1:00 PM

The masterful way you rhymed with exactly the right number of syllables delighted me. Incognito portfolio combo Bordeaux. Well-planned and cleverly executed.