Almanac Poetry: Hieronymus Bosch’s ‘The Conjurer’ (c. 1502)
Hieronymus Bosch’s The Conjurer (c. 1502)
In Bosch’s The Conjurer,
a rich merchant stares stupidly
at a magician performing a simple trick
while the magician’s accomplice
picks the merchant’s pocket.
Fools abound in every era,
asking, crying out
to be taken for a ride.
(Acknowledgement: previously appeared in my most recent poetry collection, Sacredly Profane, Ginninderra Press, 2020.)
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About
Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His fifth book-length poetry collection, Please Feed the Macaws ... I'm Feeling Too Indolent, was published in late 2023 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, which was published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.
I saw some of Bosch’s work in a few places. Bloody scary stuff close up!
I can imagine, Jim!
The painting that inspired this poem is relatively calm, by comparison – at least on a superficial level. (Though a disturbing darkness does loom over the scene in another way.)
Kevin, are you aware of the Clouds’ 1991 song “Hieronymus”? I’ve never really got what the song was about but after reading this and googling Bosch it makes much more sense.
Hi Luke! No. I’m not aware of the song – but I’ll certainly check it out now that you’ve mentioned it.
Glad that the poem has helped a little, too!
Hi again Luke – I just checked out the ‘Hieronymus’ song and really liked it. I’m a fan of melodic indie rock based upon a good idea.
That’s what I also like about a comment like yours – I post something, a person responds with an interesting comment, and I learn/discover something in return.
Excellent words to accompany the painting – and a timeless theme!
Thanks, DB.
Timeless themes are usually the best ones to base a piece of writing (or art in a general sense) upon! They possess rich veins for a creative person to mine.
In a connected way, I just thought of your Daicos poem, too … in the sense of mythic archetypes, he would fit the bill as a trickster!
Glad you liked ‘Hieronymus’ Kevin. Clouds are a really interesting band though not prolific and had limited success. They still play the odd gig in Sydney.
There’s always something to learn on this wonderful site!
I’ll now to keep an eye and ear out for Clouds, Luke.
And yes, one of the really good things about this site is its interesting diversity; as a consequence, one can often learn something and be entertained in some way at the same time.