La Chambre à Arles

—to Vincent Van Gogh, after his painting by the same name

Your artist friends in Paris 
shared secrets of the south’s light, 
its colors. So, the move
to the yellow house in Arles. 
You envisioned it filled
with a brotherhood of artists. 
Only one came.

Your tiny bedroom 
where you sought rest 
burned with the heat of Provence
while you entreated calm
in darkened corners.
So, the closed green shutters.

Still, objects seemed to absorb 
the blaze of the midi sun—the fire 
of a scarlet bed cover, sheets 
and pillows soaked in sunflower yellow,
warm to the touch of your red head.

Did you paint the walls blue 
to cool your fevered spirit?
Why so deliberately place objects 
in pairs—pillows, chairs, 
bottles on washstand—
even pictures on the walls?

Are you surprised how easily
we now see your longing for connection
with those who would never decipher
your sublime intentions?

You always did get to the heart
of things: bold slap of paint 
on canvas, thick impasto 
of flat colors, absent of shadows. 

Little room in the yellow house
so filled with light and color 
sizzling with impatient creativity, 
so empty for you of human warmth.

Kathryn Bonnez’s poems have appeared or are forthcoming in several journals, including The Comstock Review, The Mountain Troubadour, Touchstone, Floating Acorn Review, Smoky Blue Literary & Arts Magazine, and Blueline Magazine. She is a retired ESL and French teacher originally from Texas now living in Vermont and New York State. She also lived several years in France.