Jump to content
Poetry Magnum Opus

Basket of Potatoes


Tinker

Recommended Posts

Van Gogh's Basket of Potatoes

A woven basket, 
well worn
and filled to overflowing
with potatoes freshly
dug from dark dirt,
hung somberly
on the gallery wall.

My finger tips
cake with dust.
The grit of the earth
pricks my nose
and smudges my soul.

Amongst brilliant
paintings of windmills
and sunflowers
this subdued, simplicity,
pared to its base,
guides my brush.
         ~~Judi Van Gorder                                                                                 

             Vincent Van Gogh's Basket of Potatoes Van Gogh Potatoes.png

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote

A woven basket, 
well worn
and filled to overflowing
with potatoes freshly
dug from dark dirt,
hung somberly
on the gallery wall.

Like that opening Tink. Makes me want to write about potatoes!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Badge,  Haha potatoes are a staple of life in my home.  I went to a Van Gogh exhibit almost 60 years ago and of all of the paintings I saw, this one impressed me most.  I wanted to touch it so badly.  I couldn't figure out how he painted those potatoes to look like they still had dry dirt on them.  I felt like, if I could touch one, the dust of the dirt would come off on my fingertips.  Funny the images that stay with you.  I wrote the poem in response to a prompt to write a poem about your favorite painting.  

~~Tink

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love the poem and the presentation with accompanying artwork. The rhythm really takes off in the second verse.

I hadn't seen Basket of Potatoes, but if there are potatoes, there have to be ... potato eaters! Van Gogh's The Potato Eaters is one of my favorites.

Tony

Here is a link to an index of my works on this site: tonyv's Member Archive topic

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Tony,  I am familiar with the Potato Eaters. I don't know if I saw it in person when I went to the exhibit so many years ago.   I did see the Basket of Potatoes and many others including the self portrait that is so brightly yellow and blue and a more somber self portrait.  The comparison of the self portraits was like seeing night and day.  Those 3 paintings remained with me from that day, my favorite the "potatoes."

~~Judi

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Poems about paintings enhance them both.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Guidelines.