If a poem could so closely represent a painting, it would be this and The Starry Night. I can't tell if Anne wrote this as herself in a state of desperation and depression or as Van Gogh during his time of anguish, either way I seem to understand what she's trying to get out, though it's somewhat hidden. It took me a while.
Like anything, this poem has two sides. The poet uses harsh and aggressive words to describe her feelings yet what she is describing appears peaceful and quiet and beautiful. The town is silent. The night boils with eleven stars… an old unseen serpent swallows up the stars; beautiful words just bursting with rage.
If you think about it, the painting is beautiful yet filled with anger and depression, which makes me wonder how different Anne and Van Gogh really are. Both are incredibly deep and they seem to think the same way. They recognize how stunning and dazzling the world is, the sound of the wind, the glow of the stars. Yet they want to leave and throw away their sadness and weight. Anne’s poem reminded me of a suicide note. I wasn’t shocked to later find out she committed suicide. They’re not so different at all, really.
So maybe suicide was their only way to get what they truly, ever wanted, freedom and beauty.
See that’s what happens when you dig a little deeper, you find yourself coming to a major realization and you know what they’re saying. You get the poet or the painter or the writer. You get it and you get them.
Of course we all think differently, our interpretations could be completely wrong. But I don’t think it really matters because after coming to this realization, you may realize something about yourself and knowing yourself is more important than anything.
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