A Tattoo Artist’s Lament*

A little heart...no, wait...
I’ll take a butterfly, please,
placed right about ‘here’
so that everyone can see.
Don’t you think it will look
like I really do fit in,
as soon as I finally have
this image on my skin?

I wanted to be different;
I wanted to be wild;
I wanted everyone to know
I’m no longer just a child.
My Mom drove me here
to give you her permission,
so I could be just like my friends
with this initiation!

I’ll love this tattoo forever,
it will make me feel so free;
When everybody sees it
they will want one, naturally!
Yes, I promise, I really want this;
I’ll wear it till I die!
Did I say something wrong?
You look like you want to cry!

*Dedicated to my Tattoo Artist: Mark Madigan
An Artist first...last...and always!

Lora Frikken ~ 12-4-05