(Dis)quiet

The following is a poem sequence inspired by Erik Satie’s Vexations (1893) and his short-lived relationship with Suzanne Valadon. Vexations appears to have been composed shortly after this brief, but intense, love affair. This sequence was conceived and written in collaboration with Eva Von Pelt. Please read her wonderful words at http://evavonpelt.wordpress.com . My words are clothed in bold.

Listen to Satie’s Vexations here:

(the curtains open)

Your shy glance
the pause
between notes

My breath suspends
viewing time’s dilation
our universe rotates around fixed stars

Rain drops splashing
into spaces
of silence

Space-time
is where eternal love
internal lives

Fingers
running down
black silk

Slitted relativity; absolute
as cushion glides over warm waves
reflecting moist ivory sheath; lubricious (sinking)

Sorrow
lingers
in a half smile

Rings of smoke kick;
tears crash translucent
light is pulled low in the sky

Love mourned
eyes wet closed
hands empty open

Metrical heartbeat laments, as
ears vibrate with pain(t) and
hope folds into love’s murmur

Exasperation
the sound of fingers (almost)
caressing beauty

Pulled by a note, taut; plucked in time
tapping out notes; stillborn, as
an ebony sheath empties

Ivory pleasure
the black of not there
knuckle white pain

(the curtains close)

Portrait of Satie by Suzanne Valadon

The fierce quiet of love roars in my ears…

 

(part of Open Link Night week 11 – http://dversepoets.com  )