ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

TATTOO PHOBIA

It’s come to my attention, perchance you’ve noticed too,
almost everyone you see’s wearing a tattoo,
male and female, young and old, on limbs, neck and torso,
some tatts are quite small, others really more so.

Remember crusty sailors with tattoo on their arm,
depicting an anchor, a larrikin type of charm
or perhaps more sentimental, proudly saying “Mum”,
now I reckon there are some with tatts upon their bum.

Recently I’ve spent some time relaxing at the coast,
the place where unclad bodies are on display the most.
No way could I compete with my quadruple bypass scar,
flamboyant tattoos surely left me in their wake by far.

Some, I have to say, don’t look all that bad
but others have the symptoms of an artist who’s gone mad,
dragons, snakes and pterodactyls didn’t get me in
especially when tatt design outweighed available skin.

Then there’s the scenario, where I’m not one to brag,
the effect upon a work of art when canvas starts to sag.
Not entirely pretty, if you get what I mean,
certain Mona Lisas are perhaps best left unseen.

Just a passing observation, and I’m not one to judge,
unlike other topics where my point of view won’t budge,
so, on the tattoo issue, I’ll not create a stink,
there’s money to be made with a needle and some ink.

Jeff Thorpe © 24 March 2015.

So true Jeff - I see an awful lot of it here too - sometimes small and neat but other times outrageous spectacles that leave me gob-smacked! Therefore I like this very accurate sentiment in the poem:

the effect upon a work of art when canvas starts to sag.
Not entirely pretty, if you get what I mean,
certain Mona Lisas are perhaps best left unseen.

G'day Catherine

"We see them here, we see them there, we see them everywhere"

Regards, Jeff

Could never see the sense in it myself Jeff, got enough life scars without adding to the pile.

Oh for the days when only girls had their ears pieced and for that matter when girls " only " had their ears pieced.


Bob

Good one Jeff - In my family all of my nieces could get a job in the circus as painted ladies and the blokes aren't far behind them.

I wrote this ages ago - but Aunty is an old fart and what would she know

INK BLOT – Maureen Clifford © The Scribbly Bark Poet

When you’re trim, taut and terrific and your bodies firm and buff
then a tattoo seems a fine idea and one is not enough,
but as age and gravity conspire to make your body sag
then the tatt that once looked really cool is now just not your bag.

There’s the dainty little dolphin tattooed on your derriere
which at twenty looked real cute but now a whale seems is beached there,
and those words in ancient Sanskrit - seems that they don’t really say
what you thought they did – but too late now – good money you did pay.

And that full sleeve one often sees in designs somewhat tribal -
as your muscles sag and skin gets loose – draws comments somewhat ribald.
You may recall how much it cost – close to a full months pay
you can’t afford erasure now so it will have to stay.

And while the colours now are bright and vibrant and delight
with age they seem to fade and blend – become a sorry sight.
Oh it’s great to be an individual and like all your mates
get your bodies inked when you are young – but caution – old age waits.

Hi Bob & Maureen

Love 'em or hate 'em. The tatts seem here to stay. As one who blanches at getting a blood test, I'm afraid I won't be lining up.

Cheers, Jeff

Brilliant Maureen, I love it!

My 17 year old grandson Jack, announced that he was going to get a tattoo. His parents said that it would be ok by them and promised that they would make it a family affair if he went ahead with it. His mum and dad then sat around loudly discussing the art work they fancied. Jack decided not to go through with it.

Smart parents

Thanks Catherine