Stay Bold

He said I’d marked my body with sin

when he saw my first tattoo—my wrist

ironically reading All Apologies. Angry,

he said not to get one on my lower back.

I did, & after: decorated my body with

nine more. I said the hypocrisy was apt,

& asked how many bodies he’d marked

with sin—his adultery so boldly excused.

Everyone does it, he told me, & I’ll see

that it’s true when I get older. I don’t even

cheat on the man who does my tattoos.