FOR VAN GOGH

Photo by S. Auberle

I imagine you, Vincent,

on a summer morning

in your village in Provence,

whispering to yourself,

arranging sunflowers

in a cracked, blue vase.

I see you painting them

over and over--your symbols of hope

that you will awaken one day

into a sunny world,

leave behind your darkness

of potato eaters and crows.

But oh, Vincent,

how brief the dance!

How quickly blossoms fade,

leaving only hope behind,

and a trail of yellow petals for us

to follow into the sun.

~ mimi