Basket of Potatoes

[Tinker]

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

[badger11]

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!

[Tinker]

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

[tonyv]

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

[Tinker]

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

[dcmarti1]

Poems about paintings enhance them both.

[Tinker]

 Marti,  That is so true.   I hope I managed to honor Van Gogh.  

~~Tink