Tattoo

At sixteen, her navel quivered
Beneath inky needle
Latex gloved hands
Carved expertly into soft
Stretch mark free skin

Surrounded by the very essence of her being
Five year old friend
And the unmoveable glare from grungy idols
Of her youth
Staring down from cramped wall space
Giving her an endless flood of courage
And reasoning for her life choices

The pain was intoxicating
The colours blurred
By the loss of young blood
She drank greedily of the experience
Wanting more
And more
And more

She vowed her body would be a testament
To the endless life stretched out
As she emerged from the dank
Yet thrilling world of body art

A bruised flower blossoming on her midriff
She walked out into a youthful world

Now, ten years later
The tattoo still surrounds her belly button
Blossomed into full flower
Too many beers
Too many cigarettes
No more running home late at night
No more five-times-a-night sex
No more reasons to rush at life

The tattoo is still there
And yes, it is a little larger
Its petals slightly faded
Against the fading hue of her skin
But it can never be rubbed out
It will always remind her
Of the young carefree life she once had