Tattoos

Invisible Body Art

When you look at yourself,
What tattoos do you see
Inking invisible art
Up and down the canvas
Of your skin?

Are they white
Like fading scars from
Long healing wounds
Or are they black
And incriminatory
Like a scathing reminder

Are they small
Like a war spoil
From a moment of quiet
Strength
Or are they unmissable
Like an exclamation
Of tragedy

When you look at yourself,
What labels do you see
Traversing the length
of your spine
And were they painted
BY
or
ON
you?