Steel Bristle Paintbrush – Art From A Tattoo Machine
Permanently decorative…
Experiencing a new, dimension of ascension
Working in perfections with amazing attention
Coaxing the skin to enter transcension
Needles and ink, the tools for their art
Each work unique, not pulled from a chart
Adding new beauty to each body part
The skulls, and hearts, and butterflies
On legs and arms and inner thighs
They’ll dazzle, amaze, and mesmerize
Carefully placed just right; so it shows
The colorful inks in the lines and rows
Shading, transition; ribbons and bow
Names and some places, and symbols galore
Pictures of children, creatures from lore
Demons and dragons and memories of war
Cars and their beauties, and birds of a feather
Family and friends; alone and together
Shipwrecks, pirates, and long-lost treasure
Egyptian, Greek, and ideas from the Vikings
History, or nature, whatever you’re liking
Racing and running, skiing and biking
Musical scores filled with musical notes
Famous people and timeless quotes
Knights and their castles, surrounded by moats
Flowing silk threads and high reaching branches
Tales of heartbreak, love and past romances
And some stay unfinished for lack of finances
Each tattoo brings something new
Often different than what you drew
Or fortunate colors just coming through
Beauty carried for the world to see
Sleeves, and symbols, and family trees
Big dreams and small becoming actuality
So tribute is paid when tribute is due
To the great skin artists and their art so true
Our world is more beautiful, because you tattoo
- When We Lost Control - October 13, 2025
- The Crumbling Space Around Me - October 10, 2025
- Sorrow - October 9, 2025
I guess beauty is subjective, and these days tattooing has had a resurgence. My second eldest has two full sleeves, all shoulders and chest. Had it all done in Thailand by an extremely talented artist. Cost him about $3,000 all up. I have a feeling he’ll regret it in the future but hey, its his skin. It’s never interested me. Its like saying hey, this is my favorite book and two year later having read 30 more, it suddenly isn’t.
Nicely penned with clever wordplay. Great work as always Ralph.
Well done, Ralph. The rhyme is prime 🙂 with interesting phrasing. Great work I enjoyed reading.