Vincent Van Gogh, Starry Night
The stars fill the sky
even when we can’t see them
they shine and sing—
a glowing, tumbling wing
of feathered sounds that swing
across their incandescent surfaces–
this sound, a lover’s soft sigh,
a parent’s croon,
a celestial lullaby
of wonder and why.
This is for dVerse,where De asked us to use the word fill in a quadrille, a poem of exactly 44 words. My first lines came from Jane wondering a few days ago what it would be like to see the stars during the day. I suspect Vincent could hear their songs.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Lovely to read on this rainy and dreary morning, Merril.
Thank you, Jill. We’re having the same sort of weather here.
I feel like a mushroom! 🍄
Haha. Yes. 🙂
I think Van Gogh hears the stars and sings to them wherever he is – you’ve done this while alive! Bravo Merril, lovely 🙂
Aww–that’s lovely. Thank you, Susan!
Beautifully translated – except I expect you wrote the poem first 🙂
Thank you, Derrick. You’re right, I did write the poem first, but as I was writing, I did think of this painting. 🙂
🙂
Of course they would be singing as well as shining and winging. Distracting, but a lovely sight 🙂
Yes. 🙂 I wonder if they’d get distracted by each other, or if they just sing and dance together?
I don’t know. It’s a mystery and I suspect they’d rather we knew nothing about it 🙂
I’m sure you’re right. 🙂
They’re playing hide and seek tonight 🙂
It’s clearing here now, so we might be able to see some.
Hope you see the moon too. She’s just hazy blur here.
You’ll still be able to hear her humming.
She had competition this evening. I don’t know what was out there but there were an awful lot of different barks and yowls and yip yips. Trixie came on our walk this evening. Trotted ahead with Finbar. They have changed so much since we’ve been here. Seems weird having a cat take you for a walk. In the dark.
I’m glad that whatever was making the sounds stayed away!
Yes, that is funny to have a cat take you for a walk. 🙂
We turned back on our walk about a week ago because of the noise some animal was making. Husband said it sounded like a Tyrannosaurus Rex…
Trixie is a great little cat. She has to shout to us to wait—as she’s black we don’t see her in the dark. Hear her bell though. When she catches up she trots ahead like a little dog, waits for Finbar to catch up, we let him off his lead and they trot along together. Neither of them worries about the other animal noises. Don’t know if that’s reassuring.
If you see a Tyrannosaurus Rex, let me know. 😉 That is so funny about Trixie. Our cats are strictly indoors, but my Ricky follows me around the house.
I reckon it must have been badgers fighting close by.
Trixie used to be an indoor cat and Finbar would chase her if she went outside into ‘his’ garden. Now they both seem to acknowledge that there’s enough room for everyone. I don’t know what prompts her to come for walks though, she’s not very sociable otherwise. Never bites or scratches, but she makes it clear we are just here to open doors for her.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a badger.
I guess when you know you’re a queen. . . 😉
They’re nocturnal so you have to go dog walking with a torch after 11pm to see them 🙂 Trixie knows who rules.
I guess I’ll never see them since I’m usually asleep by then and don’t have a dog. 🙂 She does.
I’ll do the night shift then, you do the day shift. Between us, we have it all covered 🙂
Good thinking! 🙂
Always one of us with her eye on things.
Yes–and then we’ve got the Oracle, too.
We do, and to think that everyone could have the Oracle if they only listened!
You could shout in some people’s ears, and they still would not listen!
It’s not worth the bother. It’s astonishing really that there are still people who listen and are prepared to change their minds.
Incredibly beautiful and lyrical Merril.
Thank you so much, Linda.
This is gorgeous, Merril! I especially love:
“a celestial lullaby
of wonder and why.”
Thank you very much, Katy.
Absolutely lovely, Merril.
Thank you, Dale!
Loving all your gentle rhyme here, and the hope in these lines:
“The stars fill the sky
even when we can’t see them”
Thank you very much, De!
I love the idea of stars singing. Interestingly they would be songs sung lightyears before we were born and now entering our ears for the first time!
Thank you, Dwight. Yes, they would be! Apparently, stars really do make sounds, though maybe only poets hear them sing. 🙂
Could be!
Such a dreamy feel to this!
Thank you, Ken!
Your poem sings! It would lovely to see the stars during the day and why not, since sometimes we can even see the moon?
Thank you very much!
Perhaps they’re too far away–though I think we can see some of the planets.
Good point about the stars filling the emptiness of the sky.
Thank you, Frank!
I do love how you mix in more senses in the stars…
Thank you very much, Björn.
I am always amazed at the endlessness of your talents, not just for knowing what things like a quadrille even is, but then to be able to stick to the guidelines and meet the challenge with such panache. Love this! ❤
Aww–thank you so much, Rachel!
The feathered sounds of stars.. sighhhh. 🤩
Thank you! ❤
A lulling poem full of beauty and light. “Celestial lullaby” — love that!
Thank you very much!
Beautiful as a celestial lullaby!
Awww–thank you so much!
The words are really celestial and heart warming ❤️
Thank you very much!