Starry, Starry Night, Part Two

One of the things I learned about Van Gogh from the Philadelphia exhibit was that he was highly inspired by Japanese artists -- how they could just look at a blade of grass and capture its essence. That is what he was attempting to do with much of his art; the exhibit focused on art from a four year period, most of it was nature-based.

Nearly everyone is aware of Japanese poetry called Haiku.  The way we approach Haiku in America is in a 5-7-5 syllable pattern, or 17 syllables total.  Recently, I learned about about Tanka -- this is a 31 syllable poem often, but not always, written in a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern (but not always).  In studying up on Tanka, I have found many versions of how they are written. The bottom line is to capture a moment in a short poem.

Here are some Tankas I wrote to a few Van Gogh pieces of art.  Keep in mind, I was just looking at them on the internet, not actually interacting with the works.  My purpose was to try to capture the essence of the moment he expressed in the painting.

Brenda Euland wrote, "By painting the sky, van Gogh was really able to see it and adore it better than if he had just looked at it."  (If You Want to Write, p. 25)

My Tankas are meant to adore his paintings a little better.

Wheatfield with Crows

Uplifting, curving

crows in flight resurrecting

turbulent power

above golden fields of grain

beat black wings to troubled skies.

Montmartre Path with Sunflowers

Essential loneliness

gigantic green leaves sprawling

yellow seed faces

along the garden pathway

garden shed still supporting

The Mulberry Tree

Lucid surging force

erratic, trembling

raging, gripping leaves

blazing, combusting, flaming

the phantom speaks in colors

Peach Tree in Blossom

White halo soft

winding branches host blossoms

the peach tree, bent trunk

gentle, snug, and feathery

lasting sweetness, shimmering