Subjectivity
Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, by Vincent van Gogh, 1889
You’ve gone and done it now, you bloody fool,
Not only sliced off your left ear, but slapped
Bold colours on a canvas with a tool
Which mightn’t pose a danger to what’s wrapped
But could poke out an eyeball if you rush
To leave this record of your latest fit.
Would you be careful with that blasted brush!
It isn’t easy being forced to sit
For some wild Dutchman who can’t get along
With housemate or himself, so goes berserk,
Blade-crazy, then compounds his wretched wrong
By offering a whore the lobe. Nice work!
You like to look into the mirror there?
Paint all you see, exactly, if you dare.
Jane Blanchard
