4 Jul 2011

Wheatfield With Rising Sun

By VincentVan Gogh
In a mind
not far from madness
speed of thought
left its marks
on canvas which we enjoy
in the cold light of reason.

The sun's light
shines from the painting
and we feel
the painter's
exuberant excitement
at capturing its power.

Who can say
where dividing lines lay?
Genius...
Lunacy...
Does beauty need a label
before it achieves value?

Thanks to Tess at Magpie Tales #72 for this artistic prompt.

30 comments:

  1. Poached egg sun in a catherine wheel sky - but the colours are magnificent.

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  2. Beautiful.

    I think to be an Artist - whether it be Paint of Photograph there has to be a little madness within.lol.

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  3. madness and genius are on the same line
    great response to the prompt

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  4. A good question, that last sentence. I think the resounding answer is no label necessary, although it seems to be human nature to want to apply one to everything.

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  5. speed of thought
    left its marks
    on canvas which we enjoy
    in the cold light of reason.

    awesome line, well done.

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  6. Great one - and beauty does not need a label, it just is!

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  7. I like to think beauty does not need a label. It lies in the eye of the beholder.

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  8. Yes, who has the right to say, genius or lunacy. The point is he gave the world lots of his works/ masterpiece in beautiful colors. Your poem said it beautifully.

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  9. You have told the whole truth, here. Asked and answered a question often not far from my mind. Brilliance... Deviance... what, really?

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  10. one has to reach beyond sanity to create such beauty

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  11. He received so little but gave so much. Humanity was lucky to have him.

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  12. Art and beauty stand on their own..I certainly agree with this one!!

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  13. To ever want to put what is only clear inside your own head out there I think one needs to be rather mad... Then again, I think we need more madness in the world! Well done! *smile*

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  14. "Does beauty need a label
    before it achieves value?" No.

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  15. No label needed at all. It is or isn't, and all Van Gogh's work just is--pure, inspired, speaking. You said it well here.

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  16. I love the powerful ending... makes you think!

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  17. provocative and interesting take on prompt! xxxj

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  18. "...not far from madness." What a perfect line. I love Van Gogh because of the madness or in spite of it...

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  19. I agree creativity and madness are linked. Masterful poem

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  20. The first two lines really grab you. Great piece!

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  21. Oh, well said! I ran across a quote you may appreciate: "Insanity is relative. It depends on who has who locked in what cage."
    Ray Bradbury

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  22. What is madness but another dimension of self. :)

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  23. Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder; if you see something and like it, then you like it. If you need some critic to tell you why you should, give up and go to the football.

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  24. Dear Jinksy. Keep Up The Good Work!

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  25. It's a fine line indeed between madness and genius. Pithy stuff, Jinksy. Thank you.

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  26. Excellent write. Genius and madness often walk hand in hand.

    Anna :o]

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  27. Well said and presented. Great job. Wish I'd have done as well.

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  28. Wonderful, as always ... last two lines completely brilliant!

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  29. Love your words of wisdom. So simple, so complicated, so true.

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