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Literature Text
i.
I had never met anyone
With so many tattoos
(But I was young and naive, then).
For months, I looked at you
Askance —
It had never occurred to me
That each pattern you wore
Had symbolism, meaning
And that you had a story
For each one.
When I finally spoke,
I found you affable, garrulous
Kind and open
Your green cat’s eyes
Twinkling with good humor.
We let the afternoon roll off our backs
Like beads of sweat in the sauna
And shared a symphony of conversation
As twilight inked the sky in darkening shades
Of gold and luminous purple.
ii.
You came to visit, that winter
We walked beneath the soaring span
The bridge far above our heads
In dark silhouette against the failing light;
I noticed how short of breath you were
As we stopped to ponder the patterning
Upon the walk beneath us:
The outlines of leaves
Inked in autumn’s blood
A burial shroud for summer.
I was walking over the stains of the previous year
That cold spring day I heard the news
That I had seen you for the last time.
iii.
I have my own tattoos, now.
They have symbolism, and stories
And I wear them proudly over the scars I once hid
But the one I cherish most
Is inked in the flesh of my heart
Where you marked me
With the open hand of your friendship.
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For Jack Darkhand. I still miss you, my beloved friend and mentor. 
© 2014 - 2024 copper9lives
Comments17
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Oh my goodness, I love this poem! It's so relatable, to a man whom I once loved. You knew exactly how to write the words from my heart. I love your work! 
I actually cried while reading this, thank you for making it so personal and relatable. I think that's special in poems.
I actually cried while reading this, thank you for making it so personal and relatable. I think that's special in poems.