Cocteau in The Vaults ...

I passed The Wizard Tattoo Parlour on my way to The Vaults -

One day, I thought, I'll get a walk in tattoo -

I was on a quest for a foxed Colette -

I found one in The Vaults -

A 1962 Penguin Modern Classic -

Cheri and The Last of Cheri -

Both in one volume -

Only slightly foxed -

A drawing by Cocteau on the front cover -

I walked down Eastborough, towards Merchants Row -

Looking back, I saw the woman who'd taken my small coins -

She was sitting on the pavement, outside The Vaults -

The smoke from her cigarette wreathing her long black hair -


November 2019

Scarborough