Sunflowers
Vincent Van Gogh, the sunflower man
cut off his ear when Paul Gaugin
wouldn't stay to paint with him
in southern France.
I burnt my veil and wedding dress
scarred both my cheeks
tattooed rosettes
along my arms with cigarettes.
We both needed a man to stay.
You think it was
loneliness? I don't
think so. Madness
has always been my guess.
—Pamela Mordecai (de book of Mary)