Tattoos and Scars

Those are my hands pulling the squeegee in the picture with this poem, by the way....

 

When I look at my hands

And the lines that are there

The lines that I drew with such graceful care

Pulling flesh taut

And stretching the skin

Brings back many memories that lie deep within

Roadmap of soul

Pathways of life

Whether they mark me by needle or knife

What was once there

Is now not the same

My skin is the picture, my body the frame

Of the life I have led

And memories within

Of tattoos and scars that cross over my skin

I remember this ankle

When I had it broken

A long summer longer when few words were spoken

Or this tattoo right here

On the back of my neck

When things had looked up, before they were wrecked

This time right here

These marks that you see

Each one is an anecdote of what has become me

But it is only flesh

And is only skin deep

Within my heart, will my secrets I keep

 

Reviews

[robin]

if we took
to your skin
and broke through
would even
the thin truth of you
burn us
new eyes
I stretched
your hide in
between these
lines carved
by your street
tattoo knives
and what I
realized was you
beyond the survival
replete again
and thriving
armed only with a pen
and a voice
of wholeness
becoming,

Word Up!
Robin

[lilain]

I have a scar on my right leg where I dropped a motorcyle and recieved a horrible burn. I don't hate it now, though I did then, because I realize it defines who I am. Just as my tattoo, the scars from rock climbing... those things, like a well worn pair of shoes, tells the world were you've been.

I like this and I love that you've expressed your art (tattooing) through your art (writing).

[Nick Erickson]

Excellent piece, words that should become scripture in whatever belief anyone is.
It's not what's outside, it's what's inside.
You did an excellent job describing the meaning behind tattoos, scars... marks of all kinds on our bodies.
Each and every one of them a story to remember, a reminder of days gone by both good and bad.
EXCELLENT!!!

[darkgurl]

I just loved your last line here it summed the whole thing up, very well written you are a very talented writer.

[lark]

Cool.

I'm wondering if your lines would have been better-suited broken (the second halves of the coupleted bits...), somewhere in the middle, so you have four lines to a rhyme-pattern. Although, the way you have it is more interesting.

Way to not be a sheep.

Woohoo!

:)

[Courtney26]

I love my tattoos too and my piercings...Love the poem it kicks a*s

[Pointblank]

how long did u say u've been writing? I dont believe you.. You have captured me with the way u speak. It hits home and i cant wait to read the next one. very good.

[James K. Blaylock]

So true, skin is only skin, but it's the heart that matters most. Great write, my friend!

jkb

[Phil Sanders]

Powerfully written and quite emotive .. excellent write ....

[closed account]

This was an amazing read,, Your rhyme choice was right on!! loved it!! Don't have a tatoo, but I could see your body being a canvas! Thats how I see life, you paint your own picture!!