Black Mascara (Waterproof)

In Rosalind Easton’s lively and inventive debut collection, everyday objects are invested with glamour and drama: a mascara wand and a pair of peacock suede stilettos are brought to life in poems exploring the complexities of relationships, and a Mayfair lingerie store provides the setting for a transformative bra fitting experience. A diverse range of literary and cultural references inspires several poems, with the poet’s grandmother coming back to life as a book to ‘play intellectual drinking games with Shakespeare’, and Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor taking over the running of a secondary school. In other poems, Tilda Swinton’s magazine photo shoot as David Bowie sparks an exploration of the relationship between history and identity, and a night at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire with Suede becomes a celebration of the enduring power of teenage memories.