Needled

I wonder if I'll still be around
when you tire of the tattoo
you are about to needle
your finger with?

You know I have a thing
about labels and labelling.
Let people be people,
is it necessary to shout from
the summit to announce
to all and sundry what is
personal?

Knowing how you hate poetry,
I wonder what you'd think of me
If I tattooed my index finger with
the word poet? You would be the
first to say "for Pete's sake don't
show it".

Come to think of it, when you go
ask how much the price will be
to impregnate my skin with ink
before I sink below the horizon.

Author's Note

Please note I am not against tattoos

Reviews

[Davidgeo]

Labels are quite literally everywhere. You use them yourself everyday, even if you don't know it. We labeled our feelings with symbols, strung them together with sounds and made language which is probably in the top 3 of species greatest advantages list.

How a person chooses to label themselves is part of a thing all humans do, "self identify". We do it with clothes, make up, jewelry, possessions, fashion, actions, affiliations, tone of voice, Tattoos, and so on.

If you are negatively judging someone for getting a tattoo for fashionable reasons you're doing it in a hypocritical way. Do you not promote your gender preference and deliver a message through fashion (clothes, make up, jewelry, etc.)? You might not like tattoos as a method to achieve the same things as yourself but it's just another way of doing something. Like how some people are vegans and some people are not, or how some people like ice cream and some people like pudding instead. It's not rational to attribute negative connotations to people who self identify with tattoos, even if they look ridiculous and are generally idiotic people for other reasons... they're just trying to be themselves and if being superficial is who they are, then superficial is who they are.

Personally, i'll never get a tattoo, I don't see the appeal. Maybe when I start going senile I'll start tattooing passwords and pin numbers on my body... but that's about it.

[Chris Shaw]

There is not much you have said that I disagree with here
David, and you are right, about, fashion, hairstyles, make-up etc being used to identify people. Difference, being all those things can be easily changed. A tat is permanent. Not a problem if you are an adult but if you are a young impressionable teenager who buys an outfit one day and discards it the next, then you have to get a point over. Also from the point of view of an employer, maybe they don't like seeing them displayed on fingers, hands etc. I actually like them when they are creative but not when they are used for other purposes. My money says she'll regret it in ten years time. It's done now, she's got to live with it, I tried to make her think twice. End of :)) Always good to hear your views, thanks for the visit. It was where and what rather than anything else.

[Davidgeo]

Eh, it's just a viewpoint that sounded rational. I don't actually have a stance on this so I thought I'd take one not likely to be taken on this thread.

[Chris Shaw]

Yep, your viewpoint is perfectly rational. I am thinking about those pin numbers and passwords and just wondering whether anyone has ever ......
Hope all is good with you.

[Davidgeo]

I'm sure someone is or was that stupid somewhere at some point in time to do something like that.

[Neville]

I am a great disliker of labels .. I think they are responsible for sub cultural shifts and predominantly fuel negativity and are likewise responsible for global deviant image juxtapositioning .. often of already undervalued, misunderstood and vulnerable individuals and or groups .. rant over .. nice ink Chris .. N

[Chris Shaw]

Rant away Neville and thank you as well. I agree about labels, they are divisive and fuel negativity. Since I wrote this poem, the situation has become far worse and images that portray people in the groups you mention in a derogatory way aren’t my cup of tea. As for tattoos the needled ‘she’ in the poem has acquired some very attractive artwork indeed. A very old poem you have given an airing to. Hope your Tuesday is bright and cheerful.

Chris

[Jimmy Yetts]

Don't like tattoos; they're often gaudy and, at times, grotesque.
People who make billboards of their bodies are rather pathetic.
Even if the artwork is top-notch, that art belongs on canvas--not festooning
your cousin's behind. "Needled" makes several other excellent points.
A unique and insightful poem, Chris!

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Jimmy. It seems to be a fashion trait at the moment much taken up by our youth. It's permanent. That would bother me, they aren't fazed by it!

[augustus]

You don't have to wear a label or have a tattoo to prove who you are! Just keep writing and we'll keep enjoying all your work.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Augustus for your response. I appreciate your time.

Chris

[Kesch (Finding Julia)]

Love that 3rd stanza, This is so good. I'm not against tattoo's either, but I would never do it.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Kesch. I haven't yet, but I could never say never :) Thanks for bringing this one back to do the rounds again.

Chris

[Gee]

Not got any tattoos myself but came close in the early 80's when on a beano in Southend, luckily the shop was shut when we staggered to its door otherwise I'd have a spider on a thread coming from my left armpit !!
Hi Christine, hope the sun is out, MK is sweltering

[Chris Shaw]

Sweltering?? You must be in your bath. It's bloomin cold here Gee. Thank you for checking this one out. So a spider had a narrow escape from under your armpit :))

[Gee]

Sitting in the garden with the pooches, mind you it was cold first thing when out walking them

[Cassie]

You know there is a time I got so broken, I thought of doing all things and one of the thing was a tatoo, I am glad I didnt get it, ohh that pain of being needled!!! I am glad I didnt

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Cassie, thank you for your lovely review. All good wishes.

Chris

[Donna]

I like this poem, it is unique. I also read all of the comments and I do understand everyone's point. I do have many tattoos and I love them. Each one has a special meaning of my life. I don't have them to show off to people, mine are for me! I don't regret them, I'm still not finished getting more. Also, to me they are addicting. People do stare, and that's ok. I am the same person with or without them. Very good poem Christine.

[Donna]

I like this poem, it is unique. I also read all of the comments and I do understand everyone's point. I do have many tattoos and I love them. Each one has a special meaning of my life. I don't have them to show off to people, mine are for me! I don't regret them, I'm still not finished getting more. Also, to me they are addicting. People do stare, and that's ok. I am the same person with or without them. Very good poem Christine.

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Donna and thank you for your visit. I actually do like tattoos, they are creative. I:m just not fond of them for purposes of labelling people. I have seen some incredible artwork but often wonder how painful that must be. Happy to know you have never regretted yours and you are still contemplating adding to the collection. I am certainly happy to have you visit my page. Have a great day.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

This one reminds me of how old I am. Almost every day I encounter tattooed youths, some of whom are so garishly etched they make me think of Queeqeg the harpooner from Moby Dick. All I can say is that in a couple of decades plastic surgeons are going to be raking in the green from all the middle aged millennials who no longer want to say "Look at me!"

[Chris Shaw]

Smiling at your response John and think there is much wisdom in what you say. Thank you for your visit.

Chris