Vincent

 

Despite working in your asylum studio in France,

I believe "Starry Night" shines with hope.

You also brought recognition to peasants

working tenaciously in the dreary fields.

Working with a self-imposed urgency,

you suffered under the duress of stress.

Your bold, dramatic brushstrokes

expressed motion and emotion.

"Sunflowers" is a warm harmony of yellows.

A robust vitality of color.

You've left a profound impression

on generations of admirers,

with the skilled manipulation of your brush;

painting with the lucidity of light.

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photos from this book: 

Her Chair

 

She sat in that chair

during mild summer days,

watching the sunflowers grow

against the weathered wood of the shed,

occupied with knitting and watching birds.

She sat in that chair,

knitting slowly, patiently, expertly,

until late August

when her hands constricted

in arthritis.

In September

they brought the chair inside.

She placed her project

deep inside her closet,

hoping for better days.

In October

they harvested

the sunflowers' seeds,

and saved them for 

their winter bird feeders.

In November,

she sits in her chair

in the front room,

watching chickadees

at the bird feeders.

In December

she sits in her chair

watching the bird feeders,

and rubbing the woolen yarn

across her cheeks

with her handicapped hands,

wondering what she was knitting,

and for whom. 

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Oakfield Township - Kent County - Michigan