John Grey

TATTOO WORLD

Fleshy women,
muscled hearts,
a dragon that breathes fire
at the bending of an elbow—
they are stenciled dreams
or inked-up realities.

A woman’s wrist
is banded by a string
of clowns.
A man’s shoulder
is a resting place
for bigfoot and a yeti.

In tattoo world,
expressions are no longer necessary.
People read arms,
ignore faces.

John Grey is an Australian poet, US resident, recently published in New World Writing, River And South and Tenth Muse. Latest books, “Subject Matters”,” Between Two Fires” and “Covert” are available through Amazon. Work upcoming in Paterson Literary Review, White Wall Review and Cantos.

All rights © John Grey