I had a little contest recently for the best haiku to help others understand the downsides of that practice. I’ve decided it’s a tie with two winners, Paul and Mommie Dearest. Here is the entry from “Mommie Dearest”:

As their mom, I say:

I think your skin’s good enough

The way I made it.

And from Paul:

Body art in spring

Excites, awes, inspires, offends.

Then, winter regrets.

Thanks to the many who participated! I enjoyed that little diversion.

No, I don’t think a haiku will change anyone’s views. It’s not meant to talk down to some young person, as one commenter worried, but to give all of us a chance to consider the issue of tattoos in different ways while having a little fun.

The exercise of putting thoughts into haiku or any other poetical form can be a healthy one. To express one aspect of the value of using the constrains of haiku or other poetical form, here’s new haiku for you (am embarrassed to report I actually got out of bed at 3 A.M. to write this down):

Poetry: glacier

Of words, once fluffy, now dense,

Smooths rock, carves landscapes.

Hmm, that’s good enough to remember by, say, tattooing it on my back. Wait, what am I thinking? Cancel that temptation.

Hey, if you are going to get a tattoo, please get one that won’t sag, fade, and look a whole lot worse later in your life. For best results, wait until your skin has already become saggy and wrinkled. THEN you can head to the tattoo shop. Plus that way, once you change your mind and have regrets, you don’t have to wait as long for the most effective means known for removing unsightly tattoos from your skin: resurrection.

(Anyone notice how those who have seen angels, including resurrected beings with awesome skin, almost never mention angelic tattoos? I sort of think they don’t get them over there. Guess that haiku from Mommie Dearest is right.)