H e a r t   S o n s   &   H e a r t   D a u g h t e r s   of   A l l e n   G i n s b e r g

N a p a l m   H e a l t h   S p a :   R e p o r t   2 0 1 4 :   A r c h i v e s   E d i t i o n

 

 

MARC OLMSTED

 

 

Funeral Tattoo

 

It took 2 visits - red samurai crest then the Japanese kanji -

my mother died between them

& when that tattoo was finally down

raw

burning

looked in the mirror & saw

a crazed 'Nam vet

a Navy S.E.A.L. lunatic who wore the ears of his enemies —

fit my mood

for her grave -

on me

'til mine

 

 

[Originally published in NHS 2004, http://www.poetspath.com/napalm/nhs04/Marc_Olmsted.html.]