My tattoo—poem

"My tattoo" appeared in the Huron River Review, in 2010.
 

My tattoo

She would be a woman of course

with long black hair

that would turn green with time

and smiling knowingly

though I don’t think anymore

that I would want her to have devil wings

or a pointed tail

She would still show some leg

and I think she should be clothed

though how I’m not sure—

perhaps a librarian?

or a mexican bandita?

or a flamenco dancer?

a dominatrix seems too obvious

She might be holding a book

but which?

War & Peace?

no, Anna Karenina!

in fact she could be Anna!

in the ballroom scene

with the shoulderless black dress

but then she couldn’t be smiling knowingly

she would have to be smiling radiantly and sorrowfully

I had thought also she could be a gypsy

playing a violin

with large hoop earrings

and a red bandanna

or a pirate queen

or even Red Sonja

but not a cowgirl

though for the record cowgirls are sexy too

and I don’t know how she could be drawn as a wildland firefighter

since green and yellow nomex isn’t that sexy

even if a woman’s face covered with dirt and ash is

I think though

that what’s important

is that other women enjoy her

and they don’t mind sharing me with her

and that in bed they would trace her curves with their fingers

in the semi-darkness

calling her by name