Stephen Shimmans and His Owl on the Tattooed Poets Project

Today's tattooed poet is Stephen Shimmans, who shared this wonderful tattoo:

Stephen told us "I chose this tattoo design as I consider myself solitary, and possess many qualities associated with the owl ... Wisdom, sharp eyes, graceful and determined."

He shared the following poem, "Battle Grounds," as well: 

Temples have been razed to the ground

Idols have perished in the vapid heat of orange flames.

Tongues severed, men crucified in the arid desert.

Waning clemency a virtuous humanisation.

It casts a pall like a pale veil that enshrouds.

Gifting both intriguing mystery and smokeless ignorance.

Clicking triggers

Triggers clicking.

Blanc

Blank

Mars    Zeus    Odin

Under the glimmering belt of Orion

Ursus roar

Savage animal is man

Behest of any redemption or realisation

Dishonour and faux camaraderie

Watch the setting sun sink below

Twilight

Swinging and swooning on the star strings.

The arrows fly yet bite

The sword gleams but kills

Renders flesh

Cleaving limbs

Crushing bones.

Called to King

To die for country.

The reaping reavr reaps that which he shall sow

Seeds of wheat and buck

The ale inebriates, dulls life pain

Dull mendacity sour despair and disbelief.

Father-less child

Retreat in defeat.

Blood soaked emblems flap defiantly against a cold breeze.

Brothers who fell in battle shall love nevermore.

The reaper calls with scythe in hand,

To collect the bounty,

To collect the wood from our crosses we bear.

~ ~ ~

Stephen Shimmans tells us he is a 29- year old father of three boys and "married to the most wonderful woman on earth." He likes to spend time wrestling with the children and exploring local country parks. He completed a degree in English and Creative Writing at Salford University in greater Manchester, UK. He has had a pamphlet of poetry, entitled Roots,  published with Erbacce Press.

Thanks to Stephen for sharing his tattoo and poem with us here on the Tattooed Poets Project!

This entry is �2017 Tattoosday. The poem and tattoo are reprinted with the poet's permission.

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