Gedicht op het zwaard waarmee Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in 1619 zou zijn onthoofd 1743 - 1745

This handwritten poem by Kornelis Boon van Engelant is a meditation on the sword used in the execution of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in 1619. Here, the sword becomes a potent symbol, dripping with historical and emotional weight. Boon van Engelant, writing decades after the event, imbues the blade with the dark stain of injustice, a stain that evokes not only the physical blood, but also the moral implications of political violence. This is not merely an object; it's a vessel carrying the agony and outrage of a nation. Consider the recurring motif of the sword throughout history—from the Damocles sword of Greek antiquity, which represents impending doom, to the medieval knight's sword, symbolizing honor. Each era imbues it with new layers of meaning, altering its cultural significance. Similarly, the symbolic power of blood as a signifier of sacrifice and life echoes through cultural memory, manifesting differently across time, yet consistently engaging with deep, subconscious levels of our psyche. Thus, the poet transforms the sword into a complex symbol, resonating with historical trauma and a potent emotional charge that lingers long after the execution.