Tuesday 20 September 2016

Relic Environments Trilogy: Book III, Part 1.xii

from Book III, Part 1, The Lord of Time, His Curiosity and Galliard


Japanese Tattoos in the Edo Period

Inked with mustangs, broncs three-deep
along my shoulder blade: the modelling
is Japanese, the word irezumi
also pronounced bunshin, refers to the ink, Nara black
famously morphing blue-green beneath the skin.

Inserted, so.

The character set as written, meaning stab, probably
from  bokukei, or punishment
by tattooing, an early form.

Background clouds, waves, wind bars, images
of the Floating World inspired by ukiyo-e prints −
these characters indicate hidden carving, perhaps
along the thigh, the armpit, also referring to hidden words…

among the petals of flowers
this character both noun and verb
employing thrust and feathering in like measure,
still others suggestive of decoration, and written
with the characters for Stay, Remain.

I am everything you made me.

Inked with mustangs, from the shoulder blade,
trapezius trembling with wild manes
tailing to yellow tips in the spine’s taper, and always
with every stroke: shakki, meaning as the skin
is punctured the sound
the needle makes.





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