This Far A Distance

I arrive at my work to behold bright yellow brick walls arrayed

With frames of pop art and Elvis squaring up with Muhammad Ali and

Animal skulls and paintings of tattoo inspired ideas riddle the building from top to bottom

 

The tattoo machines abuzz converting the place into a hive of money-making monkeys

Wonderful women giggle and moronic men grunt

 

The artists stare at each other from time to time

Tired

Competitive

Clashing mildly in rebellious assimilation
My shoes have stains of hot pink drops on them

Green

White

Clients come around rudely demanding deals

Some asshole asked for a case of beer and twenty dollars to

Cover half my arm

Then why the fuck are you here I say

The place gets quiet and tense

I have been at this place for thirteen years and no longer

Desire to know anybody or to be one of the big wigs

 

The only thing that gets me off in the world of tattooing is making money

And making my client happier than they imagined they would be with the final product

I am the asshole from time to time and everybody knows

They know I know

 

I connect my cellular device and pair it to the sound system and play The Cramps

I won’t dare play Schubert there anymore

Grown men begin to cry like incorrigible cunts

Blue tooth

Wi fi

Discounts

Gift cards

Customer service

I faintly hear the roar of a T Rex somewhere far away in time

Nobody then laughed at his little arms whirling as he fought

Until the end

 

Many would laugh now though

Because its safe to do so

 

At least from this far a distance

∞