Star's Conversation

Starry Night Over the Rhone (September 1888)
------------ by Vincent Van Gogh

After sunset, stars jump out. Yes. Night is coming.

A river lies under the sky.  The light from the star refracts into the river and forms an inverted image that is called reflection. The river, like a mirror and intermediary, provides chance to star meeting its reflection. They talk every night. Similar to any else peaceful night, the conversation is going on between the star and the reflection.

Reflection: star, do you feel lonely living in the vast sky.

Star: No. Night and other stars are my friends. They accompany with me. I am in a huge group that is full of the whole sky.

Reflection: Other stars are far from you.

Star: Yes. But we have same dreams and goals. When we feel tired and meet bottleneck, we encourage each other. It makes us close and related to each other.

Reflection: why do you come out every night without rest?

Star: Because I believe I can bring bright to who needs at the night. My light is different from the daylight. It is another kind of light, which can lightens the road for people who go back late, the direction for the captain to navigate the right way, and the hope for the lost people to persist their dreams.

Reflection: Do you have phobias?

Star: Of course. I am worried about light pollution. If the light pollution becomes more and more serious, I will disappear. At that time, I cannot talk to you anymore.

            Reflection: That’s terrible. I am sorry to hear that.

            Star: And I hope the night becomes longer. For me, it is too short to complete what I want to do. When the sun rises, I have to hide behind the cloud because the sunlight is significantly glary.

Reflection: We talk with each other every night. Can you share some secrets with me?

Star: Sure. Whatever day or night, I always stand at there and watch what I concern. I have never left this position.

Reflection: do you have some faults?

The star looks at the reflection and keeps silent. His fault is he creates the reflection but he cannot let reflection choose its life by himself. The reflection only can live in the water and appear at the night.

Reflection: hey, star. Can you hear me?

Star: Yes. My fault is I hide the beauty in the mirror although I look for excuses and lies to myself that’s the only way to keep the beauty and far from the ugly.

Reflection: what is the beauty?

Star: One day, you will know what I said.

Reflection: Star, why don’t you come out in the day time?

Star: Because the day does not understand the beauty of the dark night. It is time for you to go to bed.

Reflection: OK. Nice to talk to you, star.

The sun comes out and the star hides behind the cloud again.