The Tattooed Poets Project: Stephen Caratzas

Today's tattooed poet is Stephen Caratzas, who was sent our way via Jillian Brall, a tattooed poet who has appeared on the Tattooed Poets Project twice before (<a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/05/tattooed-poets-project-jillian-bralls.html">here</a> and <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/04/tattooed-poets-project-jillian-brall.html">here</a>).<br /><br />Stephen sent along this cool photo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrDjwOpKY7z-6ntilqDgYjuNVHqZDTW9Wb_lD4D_Y_umdENoCH3Ecvbp9K_WHa3EYEgbBQwHuiqOwOMXaaUer8RdTfQwrK2pc2I8YQzwKWHNC3eeKJpX65C-U_i5CxNlpsUR2GAjllZM/s1600/spc_despair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrDjwOpKY7z-6ntilqDgYjuNVHqZDTW9Wb_lD4D_Y_umdENoCH3Ecvbp9K_WHa3EYEgbBQwHuiqOwOMXaaUer8RdTfQwrK2pc2I8YQzwKWHNC3eeKJpX65C-U_i5CxNlpsUR2GAjllZM/s400/spc_despair.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The tattoo in question is on his wrist. For a closer look:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TZ6Vyc7GpEw8VQjPH9_b4LodOd7P-1IeyuM2NtR1lhx7AQvdlh3EmKpZHcKU6lgxgskW3uFAjqihuFjP0BPcHq6TNxp3vSNjGAyjq2pAs21EcEPKd1RsEQSnZmfJusK7MlJgF_8srQI/s1600/spc_despair+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TZ6Vyc7GpEw8VQjPH9_b4LodOd7P-1IeyuM2NtR1lhx7AQvdlh3EmKpZHcKU6lgxgskW3uFAjqihuFjP0BPcHq6TNxp3vSNjGAyjq2pAs21EcEPKd1RsEQSnZmfJusK7MlJgF_8srQI/s1600/spc_despair+detail.jpg" /></a></div><br />Stephen explains: <br /><br /><blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTzpCUAL1aRkKzgVN026v8hRtZcHdIjN-n_qlR5zXV3wmif7vgsvVACUlFu0l5g0u86wH3uUMYZHdTOmFOenlVrlaLrXNpS4oWYHoy1jkGsuwdnvFtfV77x9mnvVu__LAs8s7P1pg6Wo/s1600/ohmss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTzpCUAL1aRkKzgVN026v8hRtZcHdIjN-n_qlR5zXV3wmif7vgsvVACUlFu0l5g0u86wH3uUMYZHdTOmFOenlVrlaLrXNpS4oWYHoy1jkGsuwdnvFtfV77x9mnvVu__LAs8s7P1pg6Wo/s1600/ohmss.jpg" /></a>"The tattoo is a griffin, inspired by an image of a griffin holding a <a href="http://www.waltherpistols.com/category/41-Walther_PPK_Handguns.aspx">Walther</a> PPK automatic pistol on the cover of <a href="http://www.ianfleming.com/">Ian Fleming's</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Her_Majesty%27s_Secret_Service_%28novel%29">On Her Majesty's Secret Service</a>. The artist, whose first name was Mike - don't recall his last name - decided to make the gun into the griffin's paw, which I agreed was a sensible idea.<br /><br />I got the idea for a tattoo on the inside of my wrist from one of the characters (Casper, I believe) in <a href="http://www.larryclark.us/">Larry Clark's</a> film, <a href="http://www.larryclark.us/#kids"><i>Kids</i></a>. I liked the idea of having a visible tattoo even while wearing a long-sleeve dress shirt."</blockquote><br />The tattoo is among eight Stephen has, and was inked at <a href="http://funcitytattoo.com/">Fun City Tattoo</a> on Macdougal Street in Manhattan back in the late 1990s.<br /><br />Stephen sent us several poems, but I liked this one best:<br /><br /><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">THE NEW CORONERS</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">I never felt so good as when a waiter </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">in Amsterdam called me monsieur</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">after ordering beef champignon</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">putting his pen to his lips and looking off</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">“I believe monsieur has ordered the better dish”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">so then you ordered it too</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">in a place called De Oude Doelen</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">(the old aims the old targets the old goals)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">a drunk at the bar sang along with the jukebox</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">for years afterward I searched for the song</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">it wasn’t Elvis but it was sad</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">the song and the drunk and it was our last meal</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">when we two parted it was inevitable </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">it always is it always is</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~ </div><br />Stephen Caratzas is a writer, musician and visual artist living in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. His writing has been published in <a href="http://www.terraincognita.50megs.com/what.html#english"><span style="font-style: italic;">Terra Incognita</span></a>, <a href="http://threeroomspress.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Maintenant 5</span></a>, <a href="http://versemag.blogspot.com/2005/09/new-review-of-tiny.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">the tiny</span></a>, and many other journals.<br /><br />Thanks to Stephen for sending us his tattoo and poems! We here at Tattoosday are grateful for his contribution.<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. The poem is reprinted here with the permission of the author.<br /><br />If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Stephen Caratzas

Today's tattooed poet is Stephen Caratzas, who was sent our way via Jillian Brall, a tattooed poet who has appeared on the Tattooed Poet...

Read more »

The Tattooed Poets Project: Jeanann Verlee

Here on the final day of the 2010 Tattooed Poets Project, we are featuring two tattooed poets (in two separate posts).<br /><br />First up is <a href="http://jeanannverlee.com/">Jeanann Verlee</a>, who holds the distinction of being the one poet this year who met with me in person to discuss their tattoo.<br /><br />Jeanann offered up her upper left arm:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCxYrSg8z6yyt5TyRPfzr_T1KDa3tumCxHt72yFd9cihAVt6oEjxv-iFY6E9G9iP2XmH_ZdkxdPtV27qOTw3ncbFw7UtsinGRunS_J2ZlpYjKyrlP16IPKN_mZU7Dk4Koiv3mNsWH/s1600/racing+hummingbirds+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463131633509660418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCxYrSg8z6yyt5TyRPfzr_T1KDa3tumCxHt72yFd9cihAVt6oEjxv-iFY6E9G9iP2XmH_ZdkxdPtV27qOTw3ncbFw7UtsinGRunS_J2ZlpYjKyrlP16IPKN_mZU7Dk4Koiv3mNsWH/s400/racing+hummingbirds+2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The incredible detail of this piece is in the hummingbirds:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuetlDBF-wD3MIQb5cW3_NdEqF0xYJB9KLxL6U2VP5nrL0yigBKsCaUza7fidJSv1OREjuDdomTd5N0qs9JyvztXU04md5aL1OwK9DIzmfz_f-ngOWMwsFTAhEER5KnwgkK0eIYeI/s1600/hummingbird+detail+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463131537879805394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuetlDBF-wD3MIQb5cW3_NdEqF0xYJB9KLxL6U2VP5nrL0yigBKsCaUza7fidJSv1OREjuDdomTd5N0qs9JyvztXU04md5aL1OwK9DIzmfz_f-ngOWMwsFTAhEER5KnwgkK0eIYeI/s400/hummingbird+detail+2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KYlk0cOw5RG8WJVh-6ldbDuMBBx8_dtOK58xRYCOaWU7g9qBehv1EHxDHDvdXPmP8uoWGfHRXPvrGFo8x98BGwDZB4HEowQxD-XKxATXAFdejtBkMn-T4Ihy1oNfdcsGQXBtwdfs/s1600/hummingbird+detail+1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463131449655847426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KYlk0cOw5RG8WJVh-6ldbDuMBBx8_dtOK58xRYCOaWU7g9qBehv1EHxDHDvdXPmP8uoWGfHRXPvrGFo8x98BGwDZB4HEowQxD-XKxATXAFdejtBkMn-T4Ihy1oNfdcsGQXBtwdfs/s400/hummingbird+detail+1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />This whole tattoo is based on the cover art from her just-released first book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Racing-Hummingbirds-Jeanann-Verlee/dp/0984251553">Racing Hummingbirds</a> (<a href="http://writebloody.com/">Write Bloody Press</a>, 2010).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTt8FqMEBYQhhrkk9GXvwkg7WJGcisBHhH0Y7W3lzKE4QS0I9S4IlPN0YN4EO2kDEtS7P2p5dMSrmNq-DlE_2cbV1pGz_BORY1GKKwB-3pwuJrag7G1WrdYIXCuS6Ft_7bIbJKKC4N/s1600/RacingHummingbirds_JeanannVerlee_final_FRONT.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463131108561577778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTt8FqMEBYQhhrkk9GXvwkg7WJGcisBHhH0Y7W3lzKE4QS0I9S4IlPN0YN4EO2kDEtS7P2p5dMSrmNq-DlE_2cbV1pGz_BORY1GKKwB-3pwuJrag7G1WrdYIXCuS6Ft_7bIbJKKC4N/s400/RacingHummingbirds_JeanannVerlee_final_FRONT.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Jeanann knew she wanted her next tattoo to have something to do with the upcoming book. When she had the opportunity to work with an artist she respected, <a href="http://www.thegreatandsmall.com/">Tyson Schroeder</a>, Jeanann held off on getting new ink and waited to see his art for the cover. She was happy she waited and, loving what she saw, she took the design Tyson created to her tattoo artist, <a href="http://markharada.com/">Mark Harada</a> at <a href="http://www.eastsideinktattoo.com/">East Side Ink</a>.<br /><br />The racing hummingbirds design was placed adjacent to one of Jeanann's approximately fifteen other tattoos. The piece already on her arm consisted of a symbol comprised of Celtic and Nordic runes, and calla lilies, which represent transformation.<br /><br />It was truly a pleasure meeting Jeanann at Grand Central Station and talking with her about her tattoos and her poetry. One of her poems, dedicated to poet Eboni Hogan, can be seen <a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/2010/04/tattooed-poets-project-jeanann-verlee.html">here</a> over on BillyBlog. Eboni's tattoo (<a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/05/tattooed-poets-project-eboni-hogan.html">here</a>) follows this post, and <a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/2010/05/tattooed-poets-project-eboni-hogan.html">her poem</a> is dedicated to Jeanann.<br /><br />Thanks to Jeanann for taking the time to meet with me, sharing her tattoo, and rounding up an exciting 2010 Tattooed Poets Project!<br /><br />*****<br /><br />JEANANN VERLEE is a former punk rocker who collects tattoos and winks at boys. She is author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Racing-Hummingbirds-Jeanann-Verlee/dp/0984251553">Racing Hummingbirds</a> (<a href="http://writebloody.com/">Write Bloody Press</a>, 2010) and her work has appeared in a number of journals and anthologies, including <a href="http://www.nyquarterly.org/issues/current.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">The New York Quarterly</span></a>, <a href="http://www.pankmagazine.com/?page_id=42" style="font-style: italic;">PANK</a>, <a href="http://www.friggmagazine.com/" style="font-style: italic;">FRiGG</a>, <a href="http://dansemacabre.art.officelive.com/default.aspx"><span style="font-style: italic;">Danse Macabre</span></a>, and <a href="http://www.havenbooksonline.com/books/catalogue/not-a-muse">Not A Muse</a>, among others. An acclaimed performance poet who co-curates the weekly reading series <a href="http://original.bowerypoetry.com/urbana/">Urbana Poetry Slam</a> at the <a href="http://www.bowerypoetry.com/">Bowery Poetry Club</a>, Verlee has performed and facilitated workshops across North America. She was co-author and performing member of national touring company The Vortex: Conflict, Power, and Choice!, charter member of the annual <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Spoken-Word-Almanac-Project/37812178129">Spoken Word Almanac Project</a>, and is an ardent animal rights and humanitarian activist. She lives in New York City with her best pal (a rescue pup named Callisto) and a pair of origami lovebirds. She believes in you. Learn more at <a href="http://www.jeanannverlee.com/">JEANANNVERLEE.com</a>.

The Tattooed Poets Project: Jeanann Verlee

Here on the final day of the 2010 Tattooed Poets Project, we are featuring two tattooed poets (in two separate posts). First up is Jeanann V...

Read more »