My son the tattoo artist
two delicate piercings on his face
no tattoos
soft brown hair
falls on his shoulder
where a geisha is painted
In such fine detail
the most detail he tells me
of all of his tattoos
this one in colors still brilliant
No branding here
no scarification
just pen and ink
a portrait now a poem
etched on skin
by tattoo artist
my next of kin
The newest one is on his palm
still healing
it is of aum
he talks of pain
of blood letting too
a religious experience for him
and now for you
he tells me of puja
of Ganesh
I see
stigmata
mark of tattoo
wordshophop 