VAN GOGH’S NIGHTMARE

VAN GOGH’S NIGHTMARE



WHY DOES THE CROW FRIGHTEN ME SO
MUTTERING AND MURMURING MY NAME
SPEAKING ABOUT ME OR AT ME NOT TO ME
MUTTERING AND MURMURING MY NAME.
WHY DOES HE FLY OVER ME AND BY
TELLING MY FORTUNE AND NAME
WHO ARE YOU BIRD
IT’S TOO ABSURD
WHY DO I PAY ATTENTION
BUT JUST OUT OF REACH
THE SOUND OF YOUR SPEECH
CAPTURES MY MIND AND ATTENTION
THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE FALLING TO EARTH
IS LIKE THUNDER HURTING MY BRAIN
IN AN OFF KEY VOICE
YOU SING OF PAST JOYS
AS I STAND PARALYZED WITH PAIN
WHY DO YOUR WINGS BLACKEN THE SKY
WHY IS YOUR BEAK READY TO PLUNGE
WHY IS THE NIGHT ALL AROUND ME
WHAT HAVE I DONE
I PAINTED THE SUN
WHY IS THE NIGHT ALL AROUND ME
WHERE IS THE SKY I PAINTED THE SKY
AND TREES ALIVE AS IF BURNING
WHY AM I SCREAMING AND SCREAMING AND SCREAMING
LOST IN THE NIGHT
LOST IN THE NIGHT
LOST IN THE NIGHT
AND NOT DREAMING



FRANK A VOLLMER

(On seeing a Van Gogh exhibition)