Erik Satie, Eccentric Poem by Sheena Blackhall

Erik Satie, eccentric
Wrote weird piano pieces
Strangely titled:

Cold rooms, air scare, dance wrong
Three pieces in the shape of PEAR
On a wall
On a tree
On a bridge

Unpleasant previews. Effrontery
2 preludes for a dog
Inside voice. Cynical Idyll
Severe reprimand. Alone at home

Turkish Zipline. Embryos desiccated
The one who talks too much
The wearer of large stones
Old sequins and old breastplates
The Warrior of the King of the bean song
Waltz of the chocolate almond

Market of the grand staircase
Unwelcome peccadilloes
The awakening of the bride
The Octopus. Venomous obstacles
Caress. The Dreamy Fish. Prelude in tapestry
Unfortunate example. Nice desperation

The sullen prisoner. Rag Parade. Furniture music
Tapestry in wrought iron
Things seen on the right and left (without glasses)
At a 'bistro'. A living room.

Ringtone to wake up the good big Monkey King
Hi flag! Prelude for the death of Mr Fly
Five grimaces to the dream of a summer night
Hello Biqui, Hello!

The Hatter. Air of the rat
Spleen.The American frog. Song of the cat
The picador is dead. Air ghost
Let's go Sissy. Marienbad (he was wearing a vest)
PSST! Psst! The shirt.
Dressed horse. Dawn to the fingers of rose

The composer wore seven identical, grey velvet corduroy suits
Worn, (with no variation) , for 10 years.

He only ever ate food that was white.
Sugar, shredded bones, the fat of animals

Consumed an omelette made from 30 eggs,
Consumed 150 oysters all in one sitting

Went 30 years without a single visitor
Was friends with Cocteau, Picasso and Diaghilev,
Man Ray, Brancusi, Duchamp, Dadaists

He dragged his hair back from his shiny forehead,
Tufts of hair at his ears,
Eyes owl-open behind pince-nez
.
His only girlfriend, the painter Valadon
Fed two cats caviar on Friday nights

Wrote Vexations, repeated 840 times.
Performed by a team of 11 pianists:
Lasting 19 hours
Used sirens and typewriters as instruments

Carried an umbrella under his coat when it rained, to keep it dry
And a hammer from fear of attack