Read

"Lament of the Tattoo Artist"

Published:
May 21, 2024
July 16, 2021
Read "Lament of the Tattoo Artist", a tattoo poem.|Read "Lament of the Tattoo Artist", a tattoo poem.

Abstractions I can easily depict —
for faith, a cross or star; for peace,
a dove; for justice, scales; for love, a heart.
Beyond that, I can act the part of priest,
wedding you for life with the creature
of your choice — prick your shoulder
till eagle talons grasp it; make a lion
pace across your back; call a wren
to nest between your breasts.

But I wish I could pierce you
with the sweet bite of each moment,
make your skin sing as your mouth
does when morning’s grapefruit —
rosy as a harvest moon — bursts
its bright blood in your mouth.

Nor can I emblazon the flavor
of your lost love’s skin —
the musty tang your tongue
is always craving. Or that prickle
in your throat each time
you inhale the salty surf.

I can engrave a date or lace-
edged wave before it breaks,
but not a moment. Such cannot
be created, only stumbled
upon, one by one, like shells
seized at the beach before
the sea reclaims them, caressing
with your thumb each satin cave,
dwelling in it as deeply
as you can before it crumbles.

Creators:
Judith Sornberger
Published:
May 21, 2024
July 16, 2021
On a related note...
The Magic of Mythical Storytelling

The Magic of Mythical Storytelling

Jacqueline Rose

"Living Water"

"Living Water"

Judith Sornberger

What Makes ‘Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist’ an Extraordinary Show

What Makes ‘Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist’ an Extraordinary Show

Victoria Mastrangelo

Caring for the Elderly in Kenya

Caring for the Elderly in Kenya

Grotto

“To the Man Who Marries My Best Friend”

“To the Man Who Marries My Best Friend”

Clare McCallan

"In This Place, I Find Hope"

"In This Place, I Find Hope"

David Liambee Gbe

How Thrifting Soothed My Anxiety

How Thrifting Soothed My Anxiety

Maria Walley

5 Ways to Turn Photography Into a Restorative Hobby — Even With Your Phone Camera

5 Ways to Turn Photography Into a Restorative Hobby — Even With Your Phone Camera

Jacqueline Rose

I Am Not a Failure for Gaining Weight During this Pandemic

I Am Not a Failure for Gaining Weight During this Pandemic

Stephanie DePrez

How Magical Realism Helped Form My Imagination

How Magical Realism Helped Form My Imagination

Molly Cruitt

"Have the Courage to Be Useless"

"Have the Courage to Be Useless"

Christian Santa Maria

Inside the Life of a Monk

Inside the Life of a Monk

Grotto

Good and Decent S2|E8: Backstrokes and Headspins

Good and Decent S2|E8: Backstrokes and Headspins

Grotto

How Jon Batiste’s Music Can Help Us ‘Hold On To the Light’

How Jon Batiste’s Music Can Help Us ‘Hold On To the Light’

Alessandra Harris

Beyond Mentorship: Why Having a Hero Will Change Your Mindset

Beyond Mentorship: Why Having a Hero Will Change Your Mindset

Emily Mae Mentock

5 Things That Should be Banned from a Man's Closet

5 Things That Should be Banned from a Man's Closet

Koji de Ramos

5 Hobbies You Can Take on Solo

5 Hobbies You Can Take on Solo

Marye Colleen Larme

TFW You Want to Be a Better Person

TFW You Want to Be a Better Person

Emily Bouch

Detroit SOUP Builds Community

Detroit SOUP Builds Community

Grotto

Make Community Mean Something in this Pandemic

Make Community Mean Something in this Pandemic

Ben Wilson

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.