The first, I chose decades ago: a tiny pink rose, low on my right shoulder-blade. Secret, to be seen only by a lover.
The next I took from the Wiccan Rede: ‘When misfortune is enow’ (a very old word for enough) ‘wear the blue star on thy brow.’ Therefore not permanent, not indelible – drawn rarely, only when badly needed; removed again whenever it no longer applies.
Recently, I decided on some animal totems: my left-hand guardian, the owl; my right-hand guardian, the serpent. One of each, on the correct forearm, in fine outline. A reward to myself for getting through all that hospitalisation and surgery, a little over a year ago.
Today I looked at my wrinkly 86-year-old arms, picturing how that surface would spoil the artwork, and thought, ‘No. Too late.’
The pink rose never happened either. (Tattoo parlours got such a bad name for such a long while.) I have no lover now, and no plans to find one.
The blue star happens occasionally, yes – by visualisation and intention, not with actual ink. Not even a blue biro. On my forehead, unable to be fully hidden by my hair, that would be too visible, too weird.
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I only need look inside my mind and memory to see my tattoos. I dwell on them. They are beautiful. I love them.
Sharing, 26 June 2026, with Poets and Storytellers United at Friday Writings #233: “set another goal … dream a new dream”. Not written for the prompt, but related to it, even though this dream was finally discarded.
I think I too would prefer just visualising tattoos!! Enow is a word I first encountered in Fitzgerald's translation of Omar Khayyam - A Book of Verses underneath the Bough, / A Jug of Wine, A Loaf of Bread—and Thou / Beside me singing in the Wilderness— / Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow! - Your quote transported me to that image!! Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteAh yes, a favourite stanza from a favourite poem! Delighted to have reminded you, and for you to have reminded me.
DeleteThis is such a deep spiritual concept. The day one can learns to attain happiness looking inward-all the troubles of the physical world melts away.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't a mental tattoo suffice while mental scare remains uninvited.
We tend to forget how powerful the mind can be.
DeleteThis is meditative. I have no tattoos to visualize, not on my wrinkly sun-worn skin!! But if I were to get one, I think I'd choose an owl. I recently made a video (amateur) of opening the review copy of my book, and my hands look horrible!! I like enow...reminds me of the old word ought, for zero, that my grandmother used to use all the time.
ReplyDeleteGreat choice! I love owls.
DeleteYes, that's a good word too! I always knew it as 'aught'. Google says:
Yes, aught can mean zero. It is often used interchangeably with "naught" (another word for zero) and can be written as a digit or used in spoken language.
However, its history is a bit unique:
The Historical Meaning: For centuries, the traditional definition of aught (often spelled ought) was "anything" or "all".
How It Became "Zero": Historically, the word for zero was naught (meaning "nothing"). Over time, a common linguistic slip occurred when people said "a naught." Because the 'n' sound blended into the 'a', listeners frequently interpreted it as "an aught." This historical mistake stuck, and aught became an accepted, alternative term for zero.
Skin is an unreliable canvas. You had foresight. Tattoos are better inked in one's mind as aging will transform art into a drapery of rubbish. When I see youth tattooed up legs, shoulders and arms, I imagine what what those eagles, hearts and roses will look like in a few years.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm glad to have escaped that fate. But it took me a LONG time to reach this conclusion.
DeleteHa ha. I have an imaginary shamrock somewhere and even with that I knew that was all.
ReplyDelete*Smile.* 'Somewhere,' eh? Enjoy your imaginary, secret tattoo! It's nice to know I'm not the only one.
DeleteThe "inkings" in your memories, deeply imbedded in you psyche. I love, love that you shared with us. I have used temporary tattoos, fun .. serious .. romantic .. animals .. angels. So much fun. Now at age almost 85, even the temp tattoos would look horrific.
ReplyDeleteMy step-grand-daughter once gave me a whole armful of lovely temporary tattoos. But I was only in my seventies then!
DeleteHi, Rosemary! I enjoyed reading this.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm glad.
DeleteI enjoyed reading this. Love the images you imagined and love the idea and the power of imagination. I don't have any tattoo's as I often change my mind of what I like and tattoos are so permanent And you already 86 and still so sharp That's quite an accomplishment
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marja. Yes I'm very glad the old mind still functions. Hope my body doesn't wear out too fast.
DeleteI love the message of inner tattoos (tattoos for the soul?) it's so important to have totems to help us through - Jae
ReplyDeleteHa, perhaps tattoos for the etheric body. *Smile.
DeleteIt is important, and somehow we find (or create) them.
Tattoos remind me how out of touch I am in this world...for me they represent desecration and horror. I still .remember the blue one with numbers on the arm of the lady who worked in the delicatessen when I was a child. ...Rall
ReplyDeleteThat's something I didn't encounter until I was somewhat older. But yes, I can understand what horror that kind inspire. As a child, I associated them more with pirates in movies.
Deletethe human need for support is so natural in times of need... searching and finding brings such comfort... i too have often thought of a tattoo... they are more so now present than ever before... like others have spoken the one's chosen change as i change... your reflections were wonderul to read... happy to hear you made it through trying times for the better
ReplyDeleteThank you for engaging, and for this kind comment.
DeleteLoving them is all that matters Rosemary. Memories remain permanent just for our own preference. It would be fun for the experience!
ReplyDeleteHank
Hank, you're absolutely right!
DeleteOne more vote for virtual tattoos! I enjoyed yours.
ReplyDelete*Smile.*
DeleteLovely expression of personal thoughts and dreams.
ReplyDeletePainful hospitalization memories too of last year. Mine are fresh as I suffered this year.
Hope you do whatever you want to, and be happy.
Keep smiling :)
Thanks, Anita. I usually manage to do whatever I want to (smile) and yes, to be happy. I trust that your hospitalisation, like mine, had good results in the long term.
Delete