Notes About The Poem

When Madness Rides On Moonlight

Days pass into the weak, loveless nights. The moon blinks.
The stars swirl beneath Van Gogh’s brush, as he links.
Comet light passes twisting cypresses, a schizophrenic’s concussion.
On and on, the wind twirls the trees, and does not complain,
nor, does the cosmos cringe awaiting reciprocation.
Lightning bugs mimic the stars. Atoms sneer.

Those who spout love and friendship abandon him, sneering.
Their images dance beneath his lids, when he blinks.
Though denied a compass, his soul does not reciprocate.
Through pain, physical and mental, he still connects, links
with the life which absorbs and excludes him, not complaining.
Nights pass without his mistress, Sien. His mind is concussive.

His face trembles torn in the brass sounds of the storm’s concussions.
The butcher, the baker, the candlestick-maker, all of them, sneer. 
How unmerciful, this cycle, this God to whom he does not complain.
If lack of mercy is just, may he not know why? Time blinks.
Thinking causes pain. Only painting connects him, he links.
He accepts art and the pain, as gifts, choosing not to reciprocate.

Voices, the paint, the moon, the voices say, reciprocate.
He chases mice. The cheese plate falls with a loud concussion.
He rubs his gnarled hands across his lids. He maintains the link. 
How? Why? But, the mice eating his cheese only sneer.
The sunflowers shimmer and wiggle in their vase, as he blinks.
Stumbling, he falls attempting to sit, the chair does not complain.

He had thought God clear as sunlight; yet, the paint complained. 
He was not God; he could not capture the light. He must reciprocate.
After all, who was he, but a mere man, ashes to dust; life blinks.
Ah death, le grand mal, no minor concussion,
He must escape, join the celestial spin, and avoid their sneers.
Sick, yes, sick to death of not being understood, not linking.

The brushes call. He prostitutes himself. Oil spills, connecting, linking.
Theo, brother, never would he forgive. Many others would complain.
Ah, Gauguin, His dear friend, he would understand and not sneer.
If God was truly a loving God, surely, he thought; God will not reciprocate.
The mockers who did not live in Dante’s nine levels of hellish concussion,
they will call his actions cowardly. Merciless, they did not live between the blinks.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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Bangalee Avatar
October 17, 2020 at 11:06 PM
If God was truly a loving God, surely, he thought; God will not reciprocate.....it's a thoughtful poem shared; thanks for sharing this
Foster Avatar
July 15, 2019 at 4:07 PM
"denied a compass" so extremely well written. I love this from beginning to end. Excellent. Ann
Warlov Avatar
October 3, 2016 at 7:37 AM
Not schizophrenic. He tried to live on Absinthe ( known to have hallucinogenic properties ), spending the bulk of Theo's remittances on canvases and paint.
Warlov Avatar
October 4, 2016 at 9:52 AM
I didn't know that. I suppose we'll have to excuse all the Parisian Post-Impressionist on that account, and perhaps the entire history of the Moulin Rouge. :)
Guzzi Avatar
October 3, 2016 at 8:26 AM
He was also being poisoned by gaslight.
Kroll Avatar
March 30, 2016 at 6:39 PM
Wonderful! So much to think about here. One of my favorite artists and such an enigma. You have captured so much of that and the mood of the painting. Thanks.
Guzzi Avatar
March 30, 2016 at 7:51 PM
Thank you Kathleen!
Bhurani Avatar
October 21, 2015 at 10:02 AM
Fabulous vocab and beautiful description.
Guzzi Avatar
October 21, 2015 at 10:17 AM
Thank you so much, it is but one of the powerful poems in my new book The Hurricane, available through me or at Prolific Press & Amazon.
Joachims Avatar
June 15, 2015 at 2:19 AM
excellent peom!
Gray Avatar
March 5, 2015 at 10:02 AM
Fantastic narrative of Van Gogh, an artist of truly amazing perception!- Loved this piece Debbie! - 7
Yvonne Avatar
September 23, 2014 at 10:15 AM
Van Gogh has always been one of my favorite artists. I have also always been intrigued by his life. This is an amazing write that I have added to my favs.
Reader Avatar
July 3, 2014 at 7:25 AM
Thank you very much, thats lovely :)
Eastman Avatar
June 17, 2014 at 9:22 AM
Thank you for entering my contest with this GREAT poem! I enjoyed reading it. Congratulations on the win. It was all inspiring.
Richards Avatar
June 16, 2014 at 6:45 PM
You should be so proud of this one, Debbie......I went back to hear you recite this once again on You tube.......it is one of my favorites too !! (not to mention the beautiful woman I see!)
Ryerson Avatar
June 16, 2014 at 2:46 PM
WOW cher.. MOON blinks,HE blinks, TIME blinks, VINCENT blinks... OUTSTANDING!! Go directly to MY favs too, do not pass go...
A. Sharma Avatar
June 16, 2014 at 4:53 AM
Thoughtful n seemingly true indeed ! ur fav poem is goin to be my fav too Debbie ! congrats on win n thanks for sharing !
Johnson Avatar
June 15, 2014 at 3:39 PM
I wonder if we didn't know if we could tell which artist is mad and which one sane. Congratulations on your win. Love,Joyce
Guzzi Avatar
June 15, 2014 at 4:08 PM
I would guess a lot have some type of mental difference?
Dorken Avatar
June 15, 2014 at 11:04 AM
Sprawling yet intricate. Circuitous yet exact. So dense in image and thought you cannot blink. :)
Lindley Avatar
June 15, 2014 at 8:30 AM
A big congrats on your win. Thanks for sharing your favorite poem..
Mehta Avatar
June 15, 2014 at 1:53 AM
Thanks for sharing your favorite poem, congrats on the well deserved win, Debbie
A  Avatar
June 14, 2014 at 11:57 PM
Congrats D G.... Love ~SKAT~
A   Avatar
June 14, 2014 at 10:32 PM
Hi Debbie, I see why you enjoy this poem of yours. I don't know this form, but it's a heck of a poem.. Congratulations with your own "Favorite Poem, entered in Carol's XOOL contest... Yeah, we all Win... What a sweet Deal... XOX~ LINDA
Nance Avatar
June 14, 2014 at 6:37 PM
Oh I can see why this is your favorite poem, worthy of another shiny medal :) good job :)
Street Avatar
June 9, 2014 at 2:53 PM
Extremely Passionate: Definitely She Would Seem Within A Faraway Glimpse Be It Vague At Best, Unto Most; That You Yourself Have Captured The Maddening Colours Of A Heart's Entangled To Be Here's, Inferno World....Think It Not Strange ~ KLove, Jeremy *
A  Avatar
February 26, 2014 at 9:23 PM
Debbie, thank you for setting the music and the mood with your winning. Poem. Congratulations:) Take Care ~SKAT~
Onclaud Avatar
February 25, 2014 at 9:36 AM
art in motion, debbie.. sweet congrats!..huggs
Hamilton Avatar
February 25, 2014 at 2:49 AM
love the depth here Debbie very fine pen congrats on win hugs
Gildersleeve Avatar
February 24, 2014 at 2:24 PM
Debbie congratulation on your win. A tremendous Sestina you've written. Enjoyed it very much. Warm Smiles, Connie
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