It is written permanently in ink 

taken from soft sketches to bold color 

from where is the need to own this image? 

from where is the will to bear the needle?

from deeper than the will to bare soft skin 

from somewhere deep enough to offer blood 

The true cost of owning is paid in blood 

like dissolves like but this doesn’t like ink 

beading up like fresh dew drops on the skin 

deep red is overcome by bright color 

laid down, laid in, inlaid by the needle 

picturing, puncturing, a new image 

The idea, the reason for this image 

was carried for a long time in the blood 

thought, need, desire, all greet the needle

a question, it’s answer, revealed in ink 

is there more to the pigment than color?

this is known only when it becomes skin 

Inner self is outer self on the skin

where self hopes for itself in the image

whose sign of recognition is color

and vehicle of desire is blood

through the medium of message in ink

the art of instruments is to needle

Accuracy, the way of the needle

and with it a new way is found to skin

a cat as well as an old way to ink

the outlines of the idea and image

that which was once only dreamed of in blood

so that the inside is left to color

The heart is that which chooses the color

while the hand guides the way of the needle

the heart is that which can quicken the blood

as the hand will calmly smooth out the skin

the heart is that which does love the image

as the hand lovingly applies the ink

Filled with ink is the needle empowered 

to let the color animate the skin

and the image,  the blood to enliven

"The difference between tattooed people and non-tattooed people is that tattooed people don't care if you don't have a tattoo."

Anonymous

smug, but true