My tattoos
Are not an invitation
A provocation
Nor an indication
That I want your opinion
That I give my opinion
Or that I give a fuck
My tattoos
Are not begging for a chance
To explain what they are
Or why I got them
For the umpteenth gaziollionth time
My tattoo
Is not a legal reason for not hiring me
Although it can be written out by corporate policy
Pretty soon there will be an entire generation
Of people who got tired of turning their entire life
Into one long preparation
For some two hour fucking interview
My tattoos
Do not give you an image of my integrity
Or my chance of workplace injury
Nor my efficiency
In fact
They do not paint a picture of my priorities
At all
In fact
The only thing you can tell from
My tattoos
Is that I am in control of myself
Right down to
The expression
Of my epidermis
A control over a constant battle which
Does not come easily
Requires daily self-care
Timely maintenance
Time for myself
Privacy for myself
Beauty chosen for myself
By myself
No matter what my clothes
Or perception may be
Seeming
These marks on me forever show
No matter how I keep my volume low
Or perception calm
A part of me is
Screaming
