The Tattooed Poets Project: Katie Ford Hall

Today's tattooed poet is Katie Ford Hall.

Katie sent us this photo of her tattoo:

 

Katie explains:

I got my tattoo in 1992 when I was 25.  I had been considering a tattoo for awhile and decided on a Claddagh to honor my Irish roots.  My grandparents were immigrants and I look the part.  I've always felt very connected to Ireland and whether it's nature or nurture, I seem to embody a lot of the well-known characteristics.  For the design, I used a ring I had been wearing for years.  I consider it good luck because no matter how hard I try, I never seem to be able to lose it.  I took it to Designs By Dana in Cincinnati, Ohio and one of the artists copied it onto my left arm.

For a poem, Katie offered us this:

The Thing Itself

There’s a shadow
outside my kitchen window –
falling on Japanese maple;
sweeping over swing set.

A corner of the
eye distraction from
the scraping of a
crusty pan

then again a flicker
as I turn around to say
‘chicken’s ready’

there was a me
who became a secret –
when the time came for
a me
to set an example –

the secret dances across grass
on the cool dew of
thick summer nights

reckless and unbounded,
compelling and unglued.
oblivious to
consequences,
blind to
ramifications

Dancing
born of a
shame and hunger

denied by laughter
denied by wet heavy air
and denied again --

three times
before dawn

Sacrificed at
the altar of the
inevitable
And laid to rest
in the tomb of
the proper

A life that can’t be
sustained must be
set free,

traded for
half acre lots
stainless steel
appliances
and the dream of a
freer next
generation

But there’s
still that shadow.
I suspect
it’s me

and I suspect that
shadows
resurrected
fall just beyond an

infinity of
suburban
kitchen windows.

Never mentioned
barely noticed  
banished to
the edges of
anxious eyes

 ~  ~  ~

Katie Ford Hall is 43 years old and lives on the edge of civilization just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and two children.  Her poetry has appeared in several online and print journals including Chantarelle's Notebook, Ancient Heart Magazine, Women Writing for (a) Change anthologies and For A Better World 2005: Poems and Drawings on Peace and Justice by Greater Cincinnati Artists.  She contributed a story to When One Door Closes: Reflections from Women on Life's Turning Points and has written feature stories for CityBeat Magazine and Cincinnati Woman Magazine. These days, she can be found blogging all over the place, but mostly on Uneasy Pink, her blog about breast cancer-related issues.

Many thanks to Katie for sharing her poem and her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

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Celtic Symbols: The Claddagh Ring

This awfully unique ring was deliberate in the focus of the 17th century in the Irish fisherman’s village called Claddagh. It was prepared and prearranged as a souvenir of love by a fisherman to his wife. The hands stand for friendship, the tenderness for sweetheart and the crown for fidelity.

these days this jingle is often worn as a wedding buzz or a obligation of friendship. The ring is a lot voted for on commencing care for to daughter. It is not simply tatty by Irish and their descendents, but by all those population all ended the world who obtain been captured by its spell.

Symbolism:

The Claddagh's distinctive pattern skin texture two hands clasping a heart, and more often than not surmounted by a crown. The rudiments of this symbol are often said to correspond to the qualities of find irresistible (the heart), friendship (the hands), and devotion (the crown). The phrase which was associated with these secret code in the bountiful of the semblance was: "With my two hands I make happen you my heart, and crown it by way of my love." Yet, the expression, "Let adoration and friendship reign forever" can be originate as one more import for the symbols.

The way that a Claddagh ring is tatty on the hand is habitually anticipated to convey the wearer's romantic availability, or be deficient in thereof. The air is worn on the sincere give with the empathy facing outward to show that the wearer is not lovingly linked but is looking for love. as soon as crooked inwards, it is shown with the aim of the wearer is in a relationship, or their sympathy has been "captured". Noting so as to the heart is pointing along the dispense and addicted to the veins which have an advantage to the wearer's heart. The ring tattered on the left hand as well as the hub facing outward shows the wearer is engaged; curved innermost indicates the wearer is married.