I want to cover my body with words and pictures
To paint my temple with a story
I want my very being to say something
To be something
To mean something
I want to carve out memories in my flesh
Leaving a trail of ink and stencils behind me as I go
I want to move forward but never forget
I want to remember but never sit still
I want to carry with me the people and places I’ve seen and been
I want to plant in my very skin seeds of love and learning
Seeds that will grow and flourish in the light of Life
in the light of Day
in the light of Love
in the light of conversation and question and yes, even doubt
Seeds that remind me of where I’ve been
Seeds that point me forward to where I want to go
Seeds that spell out words of strength and dependence
This body, this temple, this carcass, this shell, this all of me
I want it to be all of me
This flesh, this skin, this heart, this soul, this all I have to give
I want to give it my all
And my all is more than trappings and decorations
My all is more than hairstyles and clear blue eyes
My all is more than “Rubia!” and the shade of my skin
My all is a story, is saying something
is pictures and words
is being and meaning
is memories and paths forward
These marks, these pieces of me, this art you use to condemn me
These holes in my ears
These scars on my face
This ink in my skin
This ink in my skin
This ink in my skin
is all of me
is what it looks like when I give my all
I want to cover my body with words and pictures
I want my very self to be a reminder
of Goodness and Truth and Community and Light
I want my very being to say something
Even if what I’m saying you’d rather not hear
I want to paint my temple with a story
My story
Your story
His story
Our story
The story
I’m choosing to make it all a part of me
Forever
Permanently
I’m choosing to live my story with all of me
Forever
Permanently
