The Tattooed Poets Project: Laura White

Today's tattooed poet is Laura White, who was referred to us by the amazing <a href="http://www.doriannelaux.com/">Dorianne Laux</a>. Dorianne is not inked, but, over the past three years, she has been invaluable as a resource for us, referring numerous tattooed poets to us who she knows in the poetry community, as well as several of her talented students, past and present.<br /><br />So Laura sent us this photo which, if you ask me, is quite breathtaking:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JWeh8GCcnjy_W9z6y7G0m2W9FdaGzMGLReHMdXrk-cRZxK2dMeS-qQxn1JLRUsyXw3VZI7FtYrEPLppnHEElVWMhOgC5Qet1PaNKwvOGVXZ5VMZB_VjPUIAyTKd9erKzXrg4FPuH1Fw/s1600/Laura_white_tattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JWeh8GCcnjy_W9z6y7G0m2W9FdaGzMGLReHMdXrk-cRZxK2dMeS-qQxn1JLRUsyXw3VZI7FtYrEPLppnHEElVWMhOgC5Qet1PaNKwvOGVXZ5VMZB_VjPUIAyTKd9erKzXrg4FPuH1Fw/s640/Laura_white_tattoo.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Qlint Chesney, courtesy of Laura White</td></tr></tbody></table><br />In it, you can see the extent to which she is tattooed, and she offered us this summary of several of her tattoos:<br /><br /><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">These tattoos were done by amazing <a href="http://www.eastcoastinkmag.com/annieprofile.html">Annie Frenzel</a>, who used to be at <a href="http://blueflametattoo.com/">Blue Flame Tattoo</a> in Raleigh, N.C. but is now at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/lowbrowtattooparlour">Lowbrow Tattoo Parlour</a> in Berlin, Germany. The bluebird on my shoulder was done about four years ago, and the half-sleeve finished up this past October. I was born and raised in Northeastern North Carolina, where the <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/eastern_bluebird/id">Eastern Bluebird</a> is a common sight. </span></div></blockquote><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyXnaQVHX1oVLqYeFlDHuPF-7eLP2-e-pPj6r3i_Qzmk_CFS-GsGOi52sH56_vABi1zNxY5v63moU5B4L6yZc44MTGzy_-O0zOazuQ8Xb7jIQYWPPrfi7vOrB3kLz8OtXiniNAqJ044E/s1600/Laura_white_tattoo+bluebird+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyXnaQVHX1oVLqYeFlDHuPF-7eLP2-e-pPj6r3i_Qzmk_CFS-GsGOi52sH56_vABi1zNxY5v63moU5B4L6yZc44MTGzy_-O0zOazuQ8Xb7jIQYWPPrfi7vOrB3kLz8OtXiniNAqJ044E/s640/Laura_white_tattoo+bluebird+detail.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of Photo by Qlint Chesney</td></tr></tbody></table><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Aside from being an absolutely beautiful, brilliantly blue and orange bird, they hold a special place in my heart because as a kid my grandparents had a nesting box behind their house. Together, we would keep an eye out on the little inhabitants, shooing away larger birds and guarding the nest from snakes and other predators. When my grandfather passed away about five years ago, I knew exactly how to grieve for him.</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">            The half-sleeve came later, and is a continuing tribute to the people and places that have made me who I am today. </span></div></blockquote><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ihnaiOWqrcJwtCHBdgDIK8w3RK9CNTqgCPA1rsosmBs2OZYQnRRTkDdQUc2VmAecXcDo8L6lUlPYt1-5r5G6H43DhCTLTMwPxJw5QStIKFCTSSZmhuR-YKltPz7fS6hTf1npnuo5BQI/s1600/Laura_white_tattoo+sleeve+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ihnaiOWqrcJwtCHBdgDIK8w3RK9CNTqgCPA1rsosmBs2OZYQnRRTkDdQUc2VmAecXcDo8L6lUlPYt1-5r5G6H43DhCTLTMwPxJw5QStIKFCTSSZmhuR-YKltPz7fS6hTf1npnuo5BQI/s640/Laura_white_tattoo+sleeve+detail.jpg" width="172" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of Photo by Qlint Chesney</td></tr></tbody></table><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The three kinds of flowers are pink gerber daisies, red poppies, and orange tiger lilies, which my family and I always called cow lilies, because they grow wild in the pastures around our home. The gerber daisies are a personal favorite, because they are strikingly pretty, but in a spunky and fresh way. The poppies are a tribute to a trip I took to Turkey a few years back, in which I realized that the poppies that grow wild all over the Greek and Roman ruins are the same as the poppies that grow along the roadside in my own hometown. And the "cow" lilies, as suggested before, are a tribute to my parents and my childhood family. I remember a specific trip to my grandparents' house in which my dad pulled the car off on the side of the road, shooed us all out of the car, and helped us pick handfuls of lilies from the ditch by the road to take to our grandma.</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">            I'm far from finished with my body art  -- but maybe don't tell that to my mother. Something that I really hope to incorporate into these pieces one day is the last line of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Larkin">Philip Larkin</a> poem. It's from "<a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/177058">An ArundelTomb</a>," and I think it perfectly sums up not only my tattoo aesthetic, but my poetic one as well: "What will survive of us is love."</span></div></blockquote>Laura also sent along this amazing poem:<br /><br /><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">My Man</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">I am a bundle </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">of bruised attempts,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">a pair of pursed lips,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">ringed fingers trembling </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">at the task again.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">I bandage his fist,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">all white gauze and </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">wishes I would just </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">be done already,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">gather the broken glass </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">of the curio cabinet, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">the specter of a sentence.       </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">I wear it like cracked   </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">concealer, his whiskey </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">hesitation, silent musing </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">which tends to bloom </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">violent in the evening.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">Some nights</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">he just doesn't </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">come home at all,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">but goddamnit</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">how I love him.       </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">His mouth, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">a hot wash of pink </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">lilies struggling open,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">the brown of a petal </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">giving up.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">His sun touch,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">the frozen ground</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">absence of it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">His hands,             </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">wisteria when we </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">breathe together, when </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">my perfect words </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">are his and </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">              <i>          </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">Dear </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">Dear</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">Dear        </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">Poetry </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">has to be </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;">like this.   </span></i><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 18pt;"> </span> ~ ~ ~</div></blockquote><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Laura White is a Master's candidate in World Literature at <a href="http://www.ncsu.edu/">North Carolina State University,</a> and holds an undergraduate degree in Creative Writing from the same institution. She's been writing since she could hold a crayon, and her first published poem appeared in a children's anthology when she was in fourth grade. Since then, though, she's taken an <a href="http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/155">Emily Dickinson</a> approach to poetry, and her work has only really appeared in the <a href="http://ncsu.edu/windhover/">Windhover</a>, NC State's Literary and Visual Magazine. One day, she'll have a book for you to buy. Promise. </span></div><br />Thanks so much to Laura for sharing her work, both tattooed and written. And thanks to Dorianne Laux for sending her my way. We here at Tattoosday appreciate it immensely!<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. The poem is reprinted here with the permission of the author.<br /><br />If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Laura White

Today's tattooed poet is Laura White, who was referred to us by the amazing Dorianne Laux . Dorianne is not inked, but, over the past th...

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Tattoorism: Josh Pays Tribute to the Verrazano Bridge

Last Friday I received a very special surprise via e-mail from a guy named Josh:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnr_AfLFpurjEDXdJhfZ7gDlaVvglcThrpVEZC51LVpCd6P35XZhDPq2YLi7ds8IZ7URN2lmH31TqBnAFV_3kSzt-bpCBGbmS3G3q41YwGckwwWatIJsJzpOQ-MSpeX3MuB5jM1UUdKc/s1600-h/verrazano.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343032654208583314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnr_AfLFpurjEDXdJhfZ7gDlaVvglcThrpVEZC51LVpCd6P35XZhDPq2YLi7ds8IZ7URN2lmH31TqBnAFV_3kSzt-bpCBGbmS3G3q41YwGckwwWatIJsJzpOQ-MSpeX3MuB5jM1UUdKc/s400/verrazano.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The following explanation accompanied the photo:<br /><br /><div></div><div></div><blockquote><div>"I recently discovered your blog's postings about various <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verrazano-Narrows_Bridge">Verrazano Bridge</a> tattoos you've seen [<a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/08/under-verrazano-narrows-bridge.html">here</a> and <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/09/verrazano-redux.html">here</a>] ... They both looked pretty awesome.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>I'm also a big enough fan of the bridge to get it inked on my skin ... Although mine is a slightly different style than the other two you posted.</div> <div> </div> <div><br />I'm originally from New Jersey, and used to drive over the bridge on a regular basis to my Army duties at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Hamilton">Fort Hamilton</a> ... I also wanted to run in the <a href="http://www.nycmarathon.org/">NYC Marathon</a> for many years growing up, and finally did so in 2004 (and again in 2006) and decided to commemorate the occasion with a little inking."</div></blockquote>Needless to say, it's a phenomenal piece. I, too, am partial to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, as I can turn my head to the left as I type this at my computer, and see it through my window.<br /><br />Josh had the tattoo done by an artist named Mark Van Ness at <a href="http://www.blueflametattoo.com/">Blue Flame Tattoo</a> in Raleigh, North Carolina. Work from Blue Flame has appeared <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Blue%20Flame%20Tattoo">twice before</a> on Tattoosday.<br /><br />Josh elaborated on the piece in a follow-up e-mail:<br /><blockquote><br />"...I was inspired by the works of artist <a href="http://www.bascove.com/">Barbara Bascove</a>, who's painted dozens of New York City landmarks in her unique style. I loved the dark, rich tones of her paintings, and decided to get my tattoo along the same lines. I used the same angle / template from one of her paintings of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_Bridge">George Washington Bridge</a>, and just had the tattoo artist replace the GW towers with those of the Verrazano."</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Gya9ZrSgvBwMGgJx19ZurnqnBfFhcfW-Eajp9w8TMBIqSezb_-DlpRHQvN7VrzUhMUXSomKb4Q-c3yQVlLmHyS0U5Q0MPQY_9P_s_ixdRLJgwT281o_q7GkgvE3yNQP9IDZTNiFNNdc/s1600-h/vz_vz_tattoo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343032582173616466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Gya9ZrSgvBwMGgJx19ZurnqnBfFhcfW-Eajp9w8TMBIqSezb_-DlpRHQvN7VrzUhMUXSomKb4Q-c3yQVlLmHyS0U5Q0MPQY_9P_s_ixdRLJgwT281o_q7GkgvE3yNQP9IDZTNiFNNdc/s400/vz_vz_tattoo.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" /></a><br />The piece, which Josh says took about five and a half hours over two sessions, is one of several tattoos that he has. You'll have to wait until a later date for us to share those here at Tattoosday.<br /><br />Thanks again to Josh for sharing his awesome Verrazano Bridge tattoo with us here on the site!

Tattoorism: Josh Pays Tribute to the Verrazano Bridge

Last Friday I received a very special surprise via e-mail from a guy named Josh: The following explanation accompanied the photo: "I re...

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The Tattooed Poets Project: Whitman's Song on Michael Mayo's Chest

Today's tattooed poet has a poetry tattoo. Michael Mayo was referred to me by the poet <a href="http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/742">Dorianne Laux</a>, who taught Michael at <a href="http://www.ncsu.edu/">North Carolina State University</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWI8RAxNnzn2iQzYq1LbH8Gfm6_bO-PeR8KOOB6hg7Y01nvaqJJMmqOtxEcc22K30Ly0Fbr1kxKkdLYagueZve6hWXBOhI30O7XmgwOcAL-ilAR2GixjZv-PvC_XQe5VAChHjEsN7u4snt/s1600-h/whitman+ink.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295785599711564642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWI8RAxNnzn2iQzYq1LbH8Gfm6_bO-PeR8KOOB6hg7Y01nvaqJJMmqOtxEcc22K30Ly0Fbr1kxKkdLYagueZve6hWXBOhI30O7XmgwOcAL-ilAR2GixjZv-PvC_XQe5VAChHjEsN7u4snt/s400/whitman+ink.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Michael Mayo has "I celebrate myself and sing myself" tattooed on his chest, honoring the opening line of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Whitman">Walt Whitman's</a> iconic poem "<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/1900.html">Song of Myself</a>":<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">I celebrate myself, and sing myself,<br />And what I assume you shall assume,<br />For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. </blockquote>Michael explains why he chose to have these words, first published in 1855 in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaves_of_Grass">Leaves of Grass</a>, tattooed over his heart:<br /><br /><blockquote>"I got the Whitman quote for a few reasons. The year before [2005], I was dealing with a lot of difficult issues with my family and my Chemistry major at school. My confidence and happiness were being affected very negatively. I took an intro to poetry writing class, and I found I enjoyed the catharsis of writing.<br /><br />I don't know if I read "Song of Myself" on my own or if we read it in class, but I remember admiring not only the beauty in Whitman's words, but his self-assuredness.<br /><br />I got the tattoo as a symbol to myself of a great American poet to admire and imitate and as a reminder to have faith and confidence in myself."<br /></blockquote>Michael is a Creative Writing major and is planning on applying to MFA programs in the fall.<br /><br />The tattoo was done on his 22nd birthday, March 20, 2006, at <a href="http://www.blueflametattoo.com/">Blue Flame Tattoo</a> in Raleigh, North Carolina. Work from Blue Flame has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/07/heathers-salute-to-flora-and-fauna-of.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Check out Michael's poem "<a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/2009/04/tattooed-poets-series-day-4-michael.html">Blowing Off Death</a>" over on BillyBlog.<br /><br />Thanks to Michael for sharing his poetic tattoo here on Tattoosday!

The Tattooed Poets Project: Whitman's Song on Michael Mayo's Chest

Today's tattooed poet has a poetry tattoo. Michael Mayo was referred to me by the poet Dorianne Laux , who taught Michael at North Carol...

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Heather's Salute to the Flora and Fauna of North Carolina

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1u_kXc_HMRqHMNaEmrQS8othyphenhyphenbp4WdJ2aNln73VAoOzdhbBnp55sMsVAECEMazpPfBwx3bx7XTnyQvzT6d-yHS02kF4Nq1icnCxy_gEtrf0zye2YWMyrIaAJB69sLAGBnSUwcOAz7InAF/s1600-h/hummingbird+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228375033195519522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1u_kXc_HMRqHMNaEmrQS8othyphenhyphenbp4WdJ2aNln73VAoOzdhbBnp55sMsVAECEMazpPfBwx3bx7XTnyQvzT6d-yHS02kF4Nq1icnCxy_gEtrf0zye2YWMyrIaAJB69sLAGBnSUwcOAz7InAF/s400/hummingbird+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />As I approach a year of writing Tattoosday, I like to think that, within the first fifteen seconds of talking to an inked person, I can tell whether they are going to be interested in sharing, or are going to politely (or impolitely) decline.<br /><br />When I first stopped Heather last week, on Seventh Avenue near Macys, I guessed it was a futile attempt. Her tattoo spread from her back over to her shoulder and down her right arm. There was a layer of clothing covering parts of the piece. Generally, these tattoos are tough to capture on film, and subsequently, I end up disappointed.<br /><br />Heather is proof, however, that it doesn't hurt to ask, and that my instincts can be wrong. Not only was she accomodating (she untied the outer shirt to unobstruct the piece), but she was friendly and talked freely about her work,<br /><br />So, here it is, from back to front:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94xX-OEKTeauA6JoVAE8ZuAvY0NCEF2VAzoA4W7JW3aQgsL88M7k_w7E33hwVuhe0RNd6ezunoZWAg0qSXl6TWuP__H9SylSv9_4w7BwxwoGOYq34k04Cr3herKOv0dFAh7VCEs4DICXj/s1600-h/PICT0233.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228374970604032194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94xX-OEKTeauA6JoVAE8ZuAvY0NCEF2VAzoA4W7JW3aQgsL88M7k_w7E33hwVuhe0RNd6ezunoZWAg0qSXl6TWuP__H9SylSv9_4w7BwxwoGOYq34k04Cr3herKOv0dFAh7VCEs4DICXj/s400/PICT0233.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0Qf2-FdTx5qvk2i_sNX3-N_upEeV7Pj7VWBfbqpcKOedHGsoANl9pmVWmljJltQ-q720LfZJ7kHElGFUqkL-u-OyVjUS5ormcJuBcWZ_jgXi5HDbwTOCELNQGMGdM3iiJDmvDX2al0CM/s1600-h/PICT0234.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228374545330679442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0Qf2-FdTx5qvk2i_sNX3-N_upEeV7Pj7VWBfbqpcKOedHGsoANl9pmVWmljJltQ-q720LfZJ7kHElGFUqkL-u-OyVjUS5ormcJuBcWZ_jgXi5HDbwTOCELNQGMGdM3iiJDmvDX2al0CM/s400/PICT0234.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQkyo-k7M42ZRuW4GhjKTkDNvEykqbVih3B4IAtaynLiIU2g2h74alfIF_0l5_DSz29a6LMXvHRPNMkLOI_90GecfR67e_a4-uZoB5fUWVRh7iD9roVxGfDgPeqE8aqla5WHK6z6tkx8n/s1600-h/PICT0235.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228374166130491970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQkyo-k7M42ZRuW4GhjKTkDNvEykqbVih3B4IAtaynLiIU2g2h74alfIF_0l5_DSz29a6LMXvHRPNMkLOI_90GecfR67e_a4-uZoB5fUWVRh7iD9roVxGfDgPeqE8aqla5WHK6z6tkx8n/s400/PICT0235.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Heather is a wildlife biologist, born and raised in North Carolina, and she has a themed sequence of tattoos going, that she hopes to build some day into a full sleeve. All of the elements are species native to her home state of North Carolina.<br /><br />Beginning with the back, and detailed in close-up at the top of this post, is a <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ruby-throated_Hummingbird.html">ruby-throated hummingbird</a>.<br /><br />The bird is fluttering about a flowering plant of <a href="http://www.briartech.com/latespring/coral/pcoral.htm">coral </a><a href="http://www.briartech.com/latespring/coral/pcoral.htm">honeysuckle</a>. This plant wraps from her back onto her upper right arm. There it mingles with some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sourwood">sourwood</a>.<br /><br />Heather was clear to point out that it was an artist's representation of sourwood (aka the Sorel Tree), and not true to the actual species.<br /><br />All of her amazing ink was done at <a href="http://www.blueflametattoo.com/">Blue Flame Tattoo</a>, in Raleigh, North Carolina.<br /><br />Two artists there were responsible for her work, Mark and Christy.<br /><br />Later, when I was looking back at the photos, I noticed a black star in the middle of the sourwood. I hadn't seen it initially, and I was curious about it so I e-mailed Heather for some more details. Her response is below:<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><br />The star is actually my first tattoo. I got it on my 18th birthday, June 13th 2000. I thought I was really tough. Ha ha it's funny to think about now. The tattoo only took 40 minutes, but I passed out. Word to the wise: always eat before a tattoo. So that is that.</blockquote>Thanks to Heather for sharing her beautiful tattoo(s) with us here at Tattoosday!

Heather's Salute to the Flora and Fauna of North Carolina

As I approach a year of writing Tattoosday, I like to think that, within the first fifteen seconds of talking to an inked person, I can tell...

Read more »