Tattoo (Mine) ....... [personal Tattoo; End-Of-Life Decision) Poem by Bri Edwards

Tattoo (Mine) ....... [personal Tattoo; End-Of-Life Decision)

Rating: 4.8


I suppose it’s been around for thousands of years:
‘inking’ pictures, designs, or words on skin...... from ankles to ears.
Hearts, and skulls, tigers, and snakes,
“MOM”, and swastikas........for goodness sakes!
Many are prominently placed and are often seen,
while others, noticed less often, are placed in places ‘obscene’.

Mine says NO CPR and lies beneath hair on my chest.
Someday it may help me to be quietly put to rest.
CPR: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
I guess it has its place in this age and nation,
but not for me.....I hope. I’ve lived long and well.
I’m ready to go, perhaps to Heaven, ....perhaps to Hell.

Encircling NO CPR are words over which Death can drool:
“Donate body to nearest medical school.”

A ‘med’ school is not near now, ......
but to an incinerator I’ll go, I vow.
I hope doctors honor my sincere-tattoo request,
and let my body slip into a long, sweet, and contented rest.

(September 28,2013)

POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
i got the tattoo (between wives; temporarily sans woman) about 15 years ago. ouchy! i liked it then and i still like it; i mean what it says.

the O in NO is a smile face.
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Babatunde Aremu 03 October 2013

Yes, tattoo has been there for ages. Your will at the end of the poem is wonderful. After all when the soul is gone, of what use is corpse.

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S.zaynab Kamoonpuri 05 October 2013

A fine fabulous poem on a rare topic, n dats what i like best, i dont like d mundane common subjects. Plus U rhymd it nicely too.

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Valsa George 07 October 2013

I enjoyed your Tattoo with the smiley! But since it is under the hair on your chest, no one is going to see it and you might be given a CPR and come back to life... a still more aggressive Bri! Nevertheless the possibility of a heart attack also is rare as you have a strong heart and a thick skin.... (just imitating your style... ha... ha! !) A 10 for this humorous write!

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Noreen Carden 08 October 2013

Hello Brian as always a funny twist on a serious subject i have to say [as much as it pains me] i agree with you good read as usual you make me smile

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Elena Plotkin 09 October 2013

CPR: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. I guess it has its place in this age and nation, but not for me.....I hope. I’ve lived long and well. I’m ready to go, perhaps to Heaven, ....perhaps to Hell. 10++ for the poem! But if you really want the doctors or EMT to honor your tattoo you'll have to have two witnesses signatures tattooed right next to it and a notary and even then no promises.

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Darlene Walsh 26 May 2015

Hi Bri, Nice poem, very thoughtful and entertaining. A choice many people make. I hope your tat is never needed. I don't like the word ‘obscene’, I don't believe there are any obscene places on a person, it is only what you do with them that would be obscene. I would prefer the word 'intimate', although not as easy to rhyme? This is more what I would write: Many are prominently placed so there existence you can't forget, while others, noticed less often, are in places more ‘intimate’. And first aid CPR is more likely to be performed without opening your shirt so the tat is not likely to be seen. However, defibrillation would require an open shirt. So the tat should say DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) which would stop the hospital from doing defibrillation (if tats can be considered legal documents? I'm sure the smiley face makes it much more legal) . btw, no tats for me. Darla :)

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Chuy Amante 12 July 2014

Very nice the thought of body on ice before the flames of Satan consume you well in Hell oh well so much for the ink well hurry tell them. before the smell

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Susan Lacovara 07 November 2013

Although, I too, wish to be an organ donor, my request is inked on license, not on chest...hopefully my wallet will be with me, at time of demise...my heart has many tattoos, but my body remains, an empty canvas...enjoyed the whimsical, but realist write! ! PEACE, penned forever.

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Danny Draper 18 October 2013

This is a great contemporary poem, considering the current popularity of tattoos and other issues over choices and attempted personal control over ones own demise, gently persuasive and deftly confronting with humour and a balanced light touch. Great work.

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Xelam Kan™ 13 October 2013

Ohh my goodness wta flow....bri U r crazy, i reckon.hahahahah Did u enjoy RCP? per Volsa u have hard heart and thick skin and lil brain... hahaha (kidding) mellow.i m sure your TATTOO is love handles... haha And i guarantee you that u'll be in heaven besides me... p.s.you're beyond rating so why should i do... hahaha

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Bri Edwards

Bri Edwards

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