Tattoo man

walks down street,

shaved head bowed -

shoulders slumped

and leathered features

weathered brown.

Dog end loose between 

the yellowed digits -

sucks his smoke from cup of hand;

eyes dart needles,

teeth dyed tan.

Reek of last night's beer 

leaked into denim -

arms exposed and legs bled 

blue blotched ink from foot to neck.

Faded rainbow of illegible letters -

animals and vacant girls,

a skull, barbed wire and roses

in amongst the mess of bliss

and horror.

Even his face has not escaped

the 'art' attack - he's given 

permission to graffitists

on a mission to cover every crack

and virgin inch of him with...

something - 

Chinese lettering, reading 

unexpectedly obscene instead of cool –

the fool! Proud

Tattoo man,

Addicted to each inked in image - 

lost in aging wrinkles

scratched and wounded - healed.

Inject another dose - each

indelible and temporary meaning

judged -

a book of controversial cover - 

breathing canvas.

Man, defaced.