Lent with Van Gogh, part 5

"Almond Blossom"

Hello, Poetry Friend

Almond Blossom, Vincent Van Gogh, 1890, Van Gogh Museum

The first thing I thought of when I saw this painting was a hospital room — either this is a painting on awall, or, if the patient is really lucky, this is the view outside their window. Either way there is something in these almond blossoms, in this sky, that remains untouchable.

When I look at this painting, I see a happiness that is out of reach. I am like Miss Rumphius, sick in bed, looking out the window at lupine, longing.

Once upon a time we had a very bad April. We thought we were doing a little almond tree transplanting, but in retrospect, we almost killed the tree. It has produced no new blossoms since then. Though it is essentially a tall twig, we cannot bear to yank it out of the ground and try again. There it stands, awaiting blooms that yet may come.

Lent is always too long. If we were on Advent time, it would be Christmas already. But Lent lumbers, and each step begs the question, How long? How long can my small heart stand to lust after beauty, still out of reach?

The view from a sick bed is crucial to recovery. Blossoms are as necessary as crutches. A picture book and a balloon, more precious than penicillin.

Breckenridge Hospital

Which nurse saint gifted the baby
– with hair not gold
with fever, too high
with bruises, too blue – 
a gold balloon and The Three Bears,
with leaves like cherub wings
still held aloft.

–Megan Willome

Next week: “Sunflowers.” And “Three Little Birds.”

P.S. During this series I am writing ekphrastic poems — poems inspired by art. If you’d like to write a poem from this week’s Van Gogh painting, please share in the comments.

Happy poeming!

Megan