Kim Addonizio's 'First Poem For You'

Tattoos & Poetry equal Relationship Tattoos are permanent symbols on the body that last forever, just as poetry is a permanent symbol of true feelings of love but on paper. Tattoos and poetry can both be compared to love in a relationship just like Kim’s Addonizio’s “First Poem for You” by the use of symbolic words. Water and lightening are two words that have a symbolic meaning for the poem. “Lines of lightening pulsing just above your nipple, can find, as if by instinct, the blue swirls of water on your shoulder where a serpent twists, facing a dragon” (Kennedy, 601). Though symbols can have more than one meaning to them, the poem helps to point out the specific meaning behind the relationship. The girlfriend, of the guy with the tattoos,
In the poem, tattoos symbolized a unique portrayal of the love in the form of poetry. That too happens without the use of poetry also. Tattoos hurt, love hurts, working to make a better relationship hurts, abusive hurts, broken bones hurt, having the most precious thing in the world, kids, hurts, and addiction hurts. And with so much hurt, the memories of what happened remains forever, like the ink of the tat, when the pain is over, the one single mark will make a impact on that person’s life or body everlastingly. That also explains why when people are in a so called serious relationship and get the other person’s name tattooed on themselves and when the relationship is over, they have to find a cover up tattoo. It is hard to cover a unwanted tattoo, but it’s easy to cover up unwanted poetry, just throw it away (unless it’s already been published). Tattoos, poetry and relationships have so many great and disappointing similarities that is could go on forever, and it is such a wonderful that in all three, a person can express themselves in ways no one can ever really understand, no matter how many educational degrees they may have. In tattoos, the expression is in the form of colors and pictures, in poetry, the expression is in the form of words and in a relationship, the expression is usually in the form of sexuality. When the word sexuality is mentioned, it
In a way, this poem tells how the author is unsure of the eternalness between the couple. The fact that the woman is in the dark may perhaps signify that the author is confused or wants the reader to think deeper, about the durability the relationship has. The woman seems delighted to know that the tattoos will last until death but scared to see if the relationship will eventually become filled with pain and bitterness instead of the love that is felt. Because it is so terrifying, as mentioned, the woman wants to shy away from loving this man but continues despite the consequences. The tattoos seem to be easier and less petrifying than the man, for the tattoos will never change but his love for her could, either for better or worse. Everything in life is met to be united, whether skin and needles for a tattoo, pen and paper for poetry or person and person to make that one single body. Without predicting the future, it’s rather difficult to know if these things will stay or grow apart, and which ever direction it may go, everlasting impressions are the ones that make a mark on life and history, including