His
wicked Grin
Van Gogh’s
ear
Was a
wicked place
So wicked
indeed
He had to sever it
Right
from his face
To this
very day
Lucky for
us the
Voices went
away
Just then
because
His wicked
Grin
Would be
where he
Would have
started
Again….
Chris
McQueeney 10/18/12 12:54 P.M.
I have yet to
meet or study an artist that isn’t in some way a tortured soul. Maybe the
transition through that inner turmoil brings the art, or just thins the
bullshit layered on top of it. Vincent Van Gogh is one of my favorite painters,
and his inner demons are legendary! The story surrounding his severed ear are
many…and they don’t matter that much to me. What matters to me is that his
inner turmoil brought some of the world’s most beautiful art to life. In his
short 37 years of life Van Gogh produced thousands of paintings and prints and
drawings…what a treasure trove of work.
Today I turn 35, and I thought it was appropriate
that d’Verse wanted a verse about a dead man…at least that was what I read from
the second option. Van Gogh’s tragic end was a spiral that started long before
his death, but it sped up in the last two years of his life.
So, I propose
to you that you bring forth your crazy, revel in it, and produce something beautiful!
Change the world with your soul. Love us with your demons. Cut a visceral track
across us with your art..
Mine Art
I inflict my soul on you
As often as I
can.
I tear wide my
chest for you
See my torn heart.
Count the
beats.
See the stutter
start stop
My life flowing
in those constricted confines.
Breathe my muse
with me
Exhale long in relief
Surviving
Her tender embrace.
For her teeth
are sharp
And bite she
will.
But oh the
beauty
She sees
through my eyes.
And oh the
words
She pushes
through my fingers.
Chris
McQueeney 10/18/12 1:48 P.M
hey great pic of you man...how is your health?
ReplyDeleteartists are def tortured souls....we see things others dont always and in great depth that takes the worlds scars upon us...
van gogh def...can you imagine what would drive you to cut your ear off...
and each day we lay a bit of our soul out there to be stepped on or...loved.
I am glad Van Gogh painted too... I think you are right that a lot of creative people also have their dark sides; but without them perhaps their work would not be as great. And....happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteVan Gogh always a favorite,
ReplyDeleteyour write is also expressive
like a tormented soul. Enjoyed reading here.
When I have a terrible need of -- shall I say the word -- religion, then I go out and paint the stars. - Vincent van Gogh
ReplyDeleteJust this last July I wrote this in homage to a man who could cut off his own ear:
In The Wheat Field
Where I stand the sound
Echoes a copper hollow
I feel in my bones
and the shade of things
is ill defined in the hum
this brier tangle
offers me as truth.
Where I kneel the keen reedy
whine of a tight wire
slices through silence
with a ruby laser blade,
no lie. Divided,
I fall at your feet
in halves of love, twinned and drained,
my boast before you.
July 18, 2012 8:49 AM
I think anyone who is a writer/artist or of the arts, suffers for their art. We poets are notorious too for either being high on love or, dying from its broken heart. I think we have to be (in some ways) selfish to focus our thoughts on those emotions which others may well just blink an eye at, yet we artists feel such angst if we can't express it someway or another. Perhaps Vincent was so frustrated he could think of no other way to show it than slicing the bottom of his ear off.
ReplyDeleteYour poem expresses that feeling of frustration so well.
Oh my freaking heck! The notion of slicing through the grin is SO discomforting. In that short poem you made me sit up and really pay attention!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2012/10/18/her-the-steampunk-version/
VanGogh is at the top of my favorite artist lists and his story touches me so deeply. Perhaps there is an element of identification with his creative craziness that calls to me. I'm so glad you shared this, Chris.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Happy Birthday!!!!
ReplyDeletei am just saying this for now:
ReplyDeleteoh nice to see you back!
that first poem: fab (comment to come)
you are a nice looking guy :^)
p.s. are you back?
xo
kj
a few weeks ago i was in amsterdam and visited the van gogh museum, became a bit familiar with his art and story.. artists...what makes them so creative in such depth is always what makes them /us...so vulnerable as well..felt piece..
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Handsome! I LOVED Mine Art. I'm going to print it out for my poetry wall! Welcome to the board Chris! Hey...I vote turmoil thins the bullshit. Just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteInteresting twist on the ear.
ReplyDeleteThe dark side of creativity for many is sad.
Kirk Douglas did an excellent job interpreting Van Gogh's fears..you did an excellent job of pointing out pain he had to let out somehow..
ReplyDeleteClean and clear - love it
ReplyDeleteHope its not too late to wish you a happy birthday!! :)
ReplyDeleteI read an article when I was much younger about the tortured soul of the true artist. I remember Van Gogh and Pollock being mentioned... I realised how much I could relate to both men... Gladly, today I use their story to calm my own demons.
Wonderful 2nd piece you have there as well. :)
One of my favorite artists! Great tribute :-)
ReplyDeletehappy belated birthday chris!
ReplyDeleteloved the symmetry here. love your words. love the pic. oh hell! just love your blog!
HEY YOU! Happy Birthday to you. I am singing you a little song, mainly I am glad you made it all the way here. It's been a long way, huh?
ReplyDeleteI love, love the poem. Take it down and submit it. My 2 cents.
You should smile :). No smiling? It's your birthday!
Is that PDX PD??? Looks familiar. Can't place it.
ReplyDelete