Vincent Van Gogh 101 - Happy Birthday Vincent! Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

Dear Vincent,

During your short span of life,
You painted innumerable pictures,
Embracing the magnificent nature,
Enchanting flowers of shimmering hues,
Enduring yellow browns of mother earth,
Excellent shades of leafy green trees and grass,
Extra-ordinary paintings with vibrant images!

How I wish, you could see the way
Your paintings have flourished,
The flaming yellow of your Sun flowers
Decorated and dancing with flamboyance,
A source of immense joy to millions of your fans.
The brilliant yellow everywhere, bathed in sun light!
Sensational, smiling flowers of immense joy,
Inspiring, glowing sun flowers of delight!

How thrilled you would be to know
That your "Starry Night"
With its big, bright, stunning stars
Reflected in the serene river below
Is still aglow, shining, gleaming,
Illuminating the hearts of lovers.
The most sensational painting
Of all times!

Your tryst with nature was remarkable!
Your keen, penetrating eyes captured
The kaleidoscopic wonders of nature,
The beautiful flowers and gardens,
White, pink and red roses,
Peach, plum and almond blossoms,
Meadows of poppies and buttercups
And fields of blue irises, so charming!

Dear Vincent, I just wanted you to know that, today,
You have thousands and thousands of admirers!
Theo could sell just a single painting in your life time,
But after you made your transition into another world,
Your paintings have made a tremendous impact
With artistes and art lovers throughout the world.
With your fingers you drew the wonders of nature,
With your hands you created magic in your canvas.

I am one of your greatest fans, dear Vincent!
Whatever you painted, I am certain that
You painted it straight from your heart!
Intense emotion dancing with jubilance,
Movements, moods of nature, so intense,
Each stroke of brush - an inspiring force,
A brilliant sweep of dazzling beauty
That shall live and be a source of joy forever!

While you sit with your dear brother in heaven,
Watching the world with your keen eyes
Are you rejoicing your success
And your sensational art legacy?
Your art is immortal, Vincent!
Today, every painting of yours
Is not just, an ordinary piece of work
But a grand celebration of art!

Happy Birthday, Dear Vincent!

30th March 1853 - 30th March 2024
(Birth Anniversary-One hundred and seventy one years)