Amy’s Tatts

Mirroring deep medicine
there were lakes under her skin
fern green and sky blue:
an anchor and hawk feather
a lightning bolt, and notes
from a bird’s throat.
Its dark planet wings
out in the broken midnight and scarlet.

There were shrines under her skin
the loop of an ankh velveting breath
a black love letter
keeping the fiddler without a roof
deep in the heart of her.
Milestones and sacred signs –
groins grinding diamonds and songs,
blessed.

There were guardians under her skin
pin up girls with big bright peepers
brassy and bold
and proud of their pert breasts.
Betty Boop
bringing up the rear
right flank covered by Cynthia
grandmother and goddess of the moon.

Watch bitches rattling long chains
in foggy London town
inked so well
they were really a part of her.
Their unblinking baby blues
whistley with kohl
returning every gaze; a flesh full of eyes
staring down the camera sights.

Clare McCotter’s haiku, tanka, and haibun have been published in many parts of the world. In 2010 and 2011, she won the IHS Dóchas Ireland Haiku Award. In 2013, she won The British Tanka Award.

Claire has published numerous peer-reviewed articles on Belfast-born Beatrice Grimshaw’s travel writing and fiction. Her longer poetry has appeared in various literary journals, including Abridged, The Moth Magazine, and The Stinging Fly.

Clare was one of three writers featured in Measuring: Dedalus New Writers 1. Black Horse Running, her first collection of haiku, tanka, and haibun, was published in 2012. Clare’s home is Kilrea, County Derry.

Amy’s Tatts appeared in Boyne Berries. For Amy’s Song, click here.