---

 

This writing was accepted for publication in the 108 page perfect-bound ISSN#/ ISBN# issue/book “What He’s Trying to Paint” cc&d, v303 (the November 2020 issue) Order the 6"x9" paperback book:

Order this writing in the book Roll the Bones the cc&d Sep.-Dec. 2020 magazine issues collection book		get the 424 page Sep.Dec. 2020 cc&d magazine 6" x 9" ISBN# paperback book:

What He’s Trying To Paint

David J. Thompson

They thought for sure he was dead,
you know, that weird red-haired dude
with the funny accent called Vincent.
You’ve seen him walking around
everywhere during the day
with his painting kit strapped
to his back, or in the café
at night drinking absinthe
and either jumping around
like a madman or silent and alone
in corner. Anyway, the maid found him
this morning in bed covered in blood.
He was still alive though, turns out
that looney tune sliced off his own fucking ear.

Why? Nobody knows anything
for sure with those arty types,
but it seems like he had a big fight
with his buddy you’ve noticed recently,
that guy named Paul with the goatee
who they say left his wife and kids
and a good job in Paris, to come down
here to paint with Vincent. People heard
screaming between the two of them, not
for the first time, I might add, and Paul
was last seen getting on the evening train
headed north. Then Vincent, whose father,
by the way, is a hardass Dutch preacher, cut off
his ear like in that Bible story with Jesus and Peter,
but then, as if that weren’t crazy enough,
wrapped the damn thing up in a towel,
and gave it to that new, cute chick Rachel
over at the cat house down the street.

Now I don’t know what the hell she did
with that ear, but I was told they shipped him
off to the nervous hospital over at St Remy.
I can’t help but feel sorry for the guy; Christ,
I’ve seen his paintings and they’re awful.
All these bright, thick swirling brushstrokes –
I honestly don’t know what he’s trying
to paint half the time. No wonder they say
he begs his brother for money all the time;
he’s crazier than he acts if he even thinks
anybody is ever going to pay good money
for that kind of crap.

Copyright of written pieces remain with the author, who has allowed it to be shown through Scars Publications and Design.Web site © Scars Publications and Design. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without express permission from the author.

Problems with this page? Then deal with it...