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)