Natural Causes

On July 29, 1890,
Vincent Van Gogh died of natural causes
At the age of 37,
Just two days after shooting himself in the chest with a revolver
That was never located.
His ribs did a good job of bearing their duty,
Deflecting the bullet,
Protecting the innards,
But he died two score hours later
Of an infection in the wound.

It is said that Vincent also cut off his ear
And gave it to a prostitute named Rachel.
Act of a mad man, no doubt.

However, there are other madnesses behind these stories.
Some say that Van Gogh was protecting Gauguin,
A fencer,
Who had lopped the ear off his friend in the heat of a row.

Could it be that Van Gogh was not insane?
Could it be that he was not driven to lunacy by love of a woman named Rachel?
Could it be that he was protecting the honor of a friend?
Could it be that he died of natural causes,

An infection in the chest?