I sit, feeling the burn throughout my bicep

Some spots, I wince from the pain

The constant humming of the machine has embedded in my brain

Much like the ink being embedded in my arm

I count the tiles above my head to distract my mind

All the while, my skin screams in agony

I hear my brother note that it is finished

My skin is forever scarred

I look at the words that now rest INSIDE my skin

“Family First”

The words that have shaped who I am

Have now been shaped into my bicep

“Family First”

We stick together forever

Much like the tattoo and my skin will stick together

I can feel the ink burn through my skin

Much like the blood of my ancestors run through my veins

“Family First”