Ink

Needle pierces skin
ink touches blood
marked forever.
Each one,
with a purpose
in it's own time
and place.
But purposes
like ink
fade with time.
On my flesh colored canvas
I see pictures
a cross and the north star
for a faith and home
broken.
I see words
like forever and her name
in medieval script
misspelled.
Tattoos
like love and convictions
they dull.
Letters and pictures
run together
till their barley distinguishable.
Skin deep forever,
the longest commitment I will ever make