Art Explained by a Writer: De Sterrennacht (1889)

When the gates of heaven close, darkness falls.
Not a single pelican to be seen in the sky.
The water is their home
With or without
Sunken ships.

The light glimmers faintly
The stinking fishbowl
Seems to give off light.
A dead fish is a sign
That once there was life.

Closed wings
Nothing is done by halves
Caution is required
Before the free wings are clipped.

The sea calls
Calm
Turbulent
Just like Neptune and the wind
It’s high time.

Worn down
Exhausted
Not a shred of energy
The only prospect
A glimmer of light in the dark
The reflection in the water.

The potato-eaters are back in
Empty shelves
Lame jokes
The struggle to survive
Given up.

Death is just as black
As the night
The thoughts
Racing through my head.

Being crazy isn’t such a bad thing
Alcohol
Drugs
Turpentine
The obsession with wielding the brush.

It’s what people see in it
Oil paint strokes
By a Dutch madman

_{Dedicated to @almaguer
This is a reply to his poem
Painting: Sterrenhemel - oil painting -
73 × 92 cm - public domain
Painter: Vincent van Gogh
29-8-2026
The contest Art & Writing is hosted by @solperez and this is #200. Congratulations!}