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Photo by Eugene Chystiakov via Unsplash

Tattoos on the body
Stains on the soul
Meaningful ink
Splatters as told

Black squiggles and squabbles
Cursive words on a scar
Defining oneself
Heroine rush of char

Tattoos on the body
Design me if you may
Dye me with your judgement
Let me scrape the hues away

Disclaimer: The views in this article are those of the author. Prison Journalism Project has verified the writer’s identity and basic facts such as the names of institutions mentioned.

Heather D’Aoust is a nonbinary writer, artist and author of two books, who also publishes under the pen name Jeff-Free. A practicing Buddhist, D'Aoust is incarcerated in California.