I was married in hell
to the man who rolled dice
who dependent on the number
slept with women “oh how nice”
*
Their bodies were the cure
for misogynism so it seems
he loved to dissect them
carry parts off in his dreams
*
turn the crank
do my bidding
you there woman
naked only, where you’re sitting
*
a tree branch is as successful
at eating sweet cake
but where I come from in Kansas
what you’re doing is rape
*
” there is consolation in this”
things seems to be warming
I stand off and I smile
but you’re heedless to the warning
*
I’m looking askance
as you devour that body
you will choke on her flesh
your face reflects haughty
*
cockroaches seem not to mind
when a pit is ahead
warm places to breed
in the bodies of the dead
~mdw
Are you familiar with the artist Hieronymous Bosch? It’s been a long while since I looked deep into his paintings.
I have to admit I was always uncertain about his message. I do know that he painted many pictures of Hell.
Different art historians looked at his work and message quite differently: from nightmarish dreams, to the inventor of monsters, to a Dutch painter who painted from the medieval notions contrasting good and evil.
I believe Bosch was a solitary figure only 7 paintings bear the signature of the artist. There are more in his style that are attributed to the artist, but there is a belief that there are more works that he is not given credit for. His late 15th century art conveys an early sense of the surreal much like that of Salvador Dali who would paint unforgettable (but still hard to understand) images 400 years later.
I hope that Bosch leaves you a bit uncomfortable. I believe that was his intention.
Nightmarish dreams works for me…
This painting is by Dutch painter Gerard David a contemporary of Bosch. The paintings of the day were flat nativity scenes and portraiture.
Bosch was definitely ahead of his time and maybe uncomfortable with his artist genius.
Please join me next week as I’ll spend the week creating a mosaic of dark art and contemporary horror writing. Tis the season …
Nice poem… I love Bosch. Take a look from a symbolic or psychological viewpoint and although you catch glimpses of reason… he is still an enigma!
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yes and enigma makes art multi-dimensional. Thanks so much for your visit Sue!
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My pleasure 🙂
I agree with you and Dali has ever been a favourite 🙂
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It’s a terrible image of a man who fails to appreciate women.
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Yes and sadly they are not fictional!
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__It can be held by some that hell is here, not there.
The space on Hell’s floor
Not all men linger there
Nor do they strive to be
Some bow to all life’s graces
And cast their lock on Hell’s door.
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Thank you Doug – beautiful words
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Wow, powerful and visceral, and so well written.
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Good – Ive been working on horror articles the last several days; the art helps me speak.
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Bosch is indeed a bit horrifying, but you can stand and study his paintings for hours and always find something new–a bit like the image here and your poem.
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The thing I like about a Dante’s Inferno or Bosch’s view of Hell is the contrast that we can see if we look into the eyes of Love
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Two intriguing works of art…his painting and your poem…a good way to get the brain-cells firing on a Friday morning.
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Hopefully not on fire…
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What a fabulous marriage of words and art! Have you read Terry Tempest Williams’ book Leap? It is about Bosch’s painting The Garden of Earthly Delights. Quite an amazing book.
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no I haven’t sounds like one I need to check out post haste. Thanks Linda I love blogging friends!
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