Avoiding the Flames

You are in your blue period - turquoise swimsuit, buoyant in azure. Behind your shoulder, Brighton West Pier, A snap taken at an amateurish angle, you’re diving sideways into the waves, the gaily painted structure tumbling after you. A day later, the pier burnt down. Charred wooden bones, black skeletal pilings stumped naked. Vaudeville, lyceum, taproom, and arcade once rocked beneath bunting and banners now only wrecked rafters, broken fingers grasping still at yesterday. A hint of flames behind your image, an esplanade crumbling scorched waves. It's the blue that saves you – Your wide open blue eyes your goofy blue bathing cap. The photo is blistering, it was a close thing, nobody yelled fire when I took it. ~~~~~ The pier closed to the public in 1975 and fell into disrepair for decades, However, on the 5th of February 2003 the historic U.K. Pier was engulfed in flames.