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.

[Relic]

I've seen the tattoo thing expand over the years. I even thought about getting one myself but I'll wait a while for that. :) Seeing women covered with them is a bit of a turn-off for me. Lots of punishment and pain in that. Ouch!

[Chris Shaw]

I'm not keen on the pain side either, nor do I like people plastered on them. Discreet is best. Thank you Tim for checking in. Always appreciate your visits.

Chris

[Robert Trakofler]

for a fair and silver haired lady I'd swear maybe your a red head:) boom lines here! I'm the same way about labels, so much so... I never wear them, nothing with any emblem touches my skin i even black out the symbols on my sneakers I advertise for know one:) most people don't even know I write poetry LOL! but i think if i was in your unlabled shoes I think I might be tempted to write poet on them tho:)

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Bunny, a red head I have never been sadly. Never been tempted to try it. Much like the tattoo thingy. Looks OK on others but not me. Hope all is good in the Bunny's world.

Chris

[gram linski]

loved this, Chris, had I thought of it, I would get poet tattooed on my index finger, might still do it yet thanks for the inspiration and the pain and the ink,

[Chris Shaw]

You know what I haven't ruled it out myself. If you can't beat Em you might as well join them. Get needled gram :)

Chris

[Dave]

I really don't appreciate tattoos. I admit that I've seen some that were quite beautiful. What I honestly don't understand is how someone who is, by most standards very pretty or handsome, would want to practically cover their body with them.

Take care - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

It's fashionable Dave and I have to admit I am past doing things for the sake of fashion. Discreet is OK, but not a huge fan of some who plaster themselves in tats. Many thanks for your visit.

Chris

[CD Campbell]

I've got a few when I was in the Navy a long ways back ago. Tattoos aside, I'm more appreciative of the banter that was played back and forth between your rival, whoever that may be. Your words are of a woman with her fist in the air. It's a strong image. Especially the one where you are trailing off into the distance as if you are leaving this nonsense behind you. A big thumbs up on this one. CD

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you CD. Just a bit of banter between myself and a much younger filly. We are both opinionated :) I appreciate your visit.

Chris

[Lorry]

This reminds me of my mate Chris, Chris. 😀
He is of Chinese descent and when we used to have nights out on the town, he would zone in on anyone with tattoos of Chinese writing. He would walk up to them, laugh and say "sorry, but I need to ask. Why did you get pekingese duck, chicken char tsui and prawn crackers tattooed?" It used to freak people out.
I agree with your sentiment Chris. Picking one word to define yourself is just mislabelling yourself, as it is what they want people to perceive, not how they are.
I only have one. It says" My other body is a supermodel"
It doesn't, it says "batteries not included." 😀

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Lorry. Laughing at your share about the Chinese writing. Love it. Also your batteries not included. I like a decent tattoo, but not ones labelling people. Have a good weekend my friend.

Chris

[Eugi]

I am not against tattoos unless they are offensive or send an inappropriate message. I feel tattoos label people and can give others a wrong impression. Your poem, an excellent look at lack of common sense.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Eugi for your visit. Pleased to see you on my page.

Chris

[Eugi]

My pleasure, Chris.

[Kent Rawski]

Tit for tat if that's where you put it that's where it's at

[Chris Shaw]

Could be. I'm still pondering on it. Thank you Kent.

Chris

[Kent Rawski]

U R kidding right? I see you as more reserved than that lol I was just being frivolous light hearted

[Kent Rawski]

And I think you were just needling me 😏

[Chris Shaw]

Maybe I am not as reserved as you think :))

[Kent Rawski]

LOL incorrigible

[Kent Rawski]

I have a question when and where did the expression tit for tat appear was it sheakespeare anyone know?

[Laura Kate]

This seems totally unfair. I'm picking up a sense of inequality or one-sided ness.
Would your finger be able to keep its head above the horizon if the word 'poet' were to be written on it? Would this prevent you from sinking? There is so many layers to this, hidden layers, which I think is very clever when you consider the topic of tattooing which penetrates layers of the skin, deeply. Labels.... I am also not a fan. Is there the feeling of needing a label here, for the subject's own sake? It's never nice to have to explain or prove yourself, but I suppose a needled label would send a clear message.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Laura Kate. Definitely a difference of opinion here between myself and a member of the much younger generation :) No animosity, just banter on a subject which can be controversial. Appreciate your visit muchly.

Chris