Poem: The Starry Night | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post

Poem: The Starry Night

Ekphrastic: a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Here's a look at how I viewed this beautiful painting by Vincent Van Gogh and how it allowed me to venture into another perspective of open-mindedness.

Laraib Akhtar
Mar 15, 2019
Alpharetta, Georgia
284
Poem: The Starry Night

The Starry Night

This starry night contains billions of lights shining bright

That hover above the town like little crowns

And are the windows to heaven

For only here, in the French town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

Can the sun be an orb of deep orange iron ore?

Only here,

Can wishful thinking commence to see an alternate kindness from corrupt authority?

Only here,

Can the sky cradle the waves of the ocean?

Only here,

Can the moon spin like loom?

Only here,

Can the town be inferior to the merrier world of nature around it?

Only here,

Can the captivities of asylum shrink into nothing?

I appreciate the lights, for I am the beholder of sight

Basking in the glory of it's overwhelming might, it is a guaranteed sight for sore eyes.


Initially, my natural/immediate reaction to seeing this painting was one of pure astonishment and wonder regarding its beauty. Once I was able to look deeper and understand every detail, a new perspective had been created in my mind about life and the places we live in. I began to form a deeper understanding of how life can be seen creatively when I saw how the sky was painted in swirls. This correlated ,in my head, to life truly being "what you make it" and that you are in control of how you view life. Finally, I got a good look at how humans develop intimate connections to the places and environments they reside in. So, that was my new learning experience from art (specifically this painting by Gogh.) Now, I challenge you to form your own perspectives about this painting. What do you feel is most important? What elements do you feel have a deeper meaning?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

AI music threatens creativity

The Soul of Sound: How AI Challenges Human Expression in Music

241291
Humans and robots face off in a rock band battle with guitars and drums, under dynamic lighting.
StableDiffusion

In an age where artificial intelligence can mimic the voice of Freddie Mercury or reimagine pop hits as synthwave ballads, a new frontier has emerged — one that blurs the line between innovation and erosion. While AI offers undeniable benefits in technical domains, its intrusion into creative arts, especially music, raises urgent questions. Not just about copyright, but about culture, education, and the very soul of artistic expression.


Keep Reading...Show less
ai generated music
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

Miami University
571688
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
music
Entertainment

Why Your Astrological Sign May Not Match Your Personality

We are all more than just one sign.

SUNY Plattsburgh
484911
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
astrology
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

UNC Greensboro
459197
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
spring
Relationships

The Importance Of Being A Good Person

An open letter to the good-hearted people.

Sacred Heart University
725110
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
good person

Trending Topics

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments