Stolen Landscapes

It is Vincent van Gogh's 168th birthday. His yellow "Sunflower" 
painting is part of a collection we saw today at the National Gallery. 
Hanging in the final room. I went there first. She started with 
Titian, Botticelli, and Velazquez in the first room. 
Over two years together. I told her last week I had had enough.

There is no one at the van Gogh when I get there. I think 
of his story. The broke artist, longing for acceptance, love. Cutting 
off his left ear to convince Paul Gauguin to stay with him in 
Arles. Giving it to his favourite prostitute after he 
rejected it. Spending time in a mental home. Eventually 
killing himself the same day he finished his two final works.

She taps me on the shoulder with tears running down her face. 
"I'm sorry," I say, following a lengthy pause. Contemplating Gauguin's still
life hanging beside Vincent's. Hoping things turn out differently this time. 

Brenton Booth lives in Sydney, Australia. Poetry of his has appeared in Gargoyle, New York Quarterly, North Dakota Quarterly, Chiron Review, Main Street Rag, Naugatuck River Review, Heavy Feather Review and Nerve Cowboy. He has two full length collections available from Epic Rites Press.

Feature Image: “Sunflower Landscape” by Valerli Tkachenko under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license via Wiki Commons.