Jan Adam Kruseman, Dutch
“Well, Yes, That Is Correct. Technically, I DID Forget To Play Our Office’s Winning Numbers in the $580 Million Powerball Drawing Last Night. But It’s Actually a Funny Story…,” 1852
Oil on canvas
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Artist info is pointed to in my comment at another blog entry.
/// Sixteen hundreds— Great poets, all Dutch,
with their host, P. C. Hooft, kept in touch.
They’d meet, eat, talk and sing
in the famed Muiderkring,
Is this scene true to life? No, not much.
/// Castle Muiderslot’s where Hooft would host
these great minds and about them he’d boast.
But these thinkers, sublime,
met Hooft one at a time.
No great crowd, just a few at the most.
/// Yet this legend arose that each year
an elite brainy bunch would appear.
Skimming cultural cream was an intellect’s dream,
don’t you wish such a thing happened here?
/// When Napoleon’s Wars were all done,
Dutch Republic ceased— Kingdom begun.
In a time of great strife
people longed for a life
of peace, tolerance, learning and fun.
/// Muider Circle, shown here, symbolized
coexistence in peace these folks prized.
Every gender and creed
and religion agreed
to exchange views and art, none despised.
/// It’s now hard to imagine an age
when the average man valued a sage.
When a band of elites
weren’t smeared as sick cheats,
and discussions took place without rage.
/// The five Dutchmen we see on the right
seem intent and enthralled by the sight
of the beauty in gold.
She’s a joy to behold!
Men behind her she doesn’t excite.
/// On the left, those three stand in a place
where they can’t see her exquisite face.
From the back, her gown’s drape
gives no clue to her shape,
(but, in truth, they prefer the male race).
/// Or, perhaps two might give girls a try.
To test if they’re not gay– instead bi.
The third one understands
why two pals would holds hands;
he composed loving odes to a guy.
/// Those two guys in the back will insist
on a ménage à trois for their tryst.
Each makes love to his pal
before mounting the gal,
(otherwise he’s as limp as his wrist).
In response to a suggestion that the two men at the far right are conjoined twins:
/// Both “attached at the hip” all their lives,
they are healthy and each of them thrives.
But, if severed with knives,
perhaps neither survives?
(Separation is craved by their wives.)