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Van Gogh: Sidewalk Cafe at Night


by Jerry Ratch


 

The heart of those stars is a dab of yellow light.

The darkness of the blue night appears so deep

because the downward strokes of the actual sky

are interspersed with a violet that's almost black,

above the truly black silhouettes of the buildings.

 

In the street, people still walk.

It is not so late. Quite a few sitting

in groups at green tables, attended by

a waiter in green. The yellow light under

the awning ignites the terrace,

though no one sits at this end of the cafe.

They all seem to want to gather under the yellow

lamp, while fat stars stand out in the cobalt night.

 

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