Question

Identify and evaluate the symbolism used in the poem “Tattoo” by Gregg Shapiro and how it relates to the theme of the poem.

Answer 1

Can you post the poem?

Answer 2

“Tattoo”
by Gregg Shapiro

My father won’t talk about the numbers
3-7-8-2-5 between the wrist and elbow
blue as blood on his left forearm
Instead, he spreads himself over me
spilling his protection, like acid, until it burns
I wear him like a cloak, sweat under the weight

There were stories in the lines on his face
the nervous blue flash in his eyes
his bone-crushing hugs
I am drowning in his silence
trying to stay afloat on curiosity
Questions choke me and I swallow hard

We don’t breathe the same air
speak the same language
live in the same universe
We are continents, worlds apart
I am sorry my life has remained unscathed
His scars still bleed, his bruises don’t fade

If I could trade places with him
I would pad the rest of his days
wrap him in gauze and velvet
absorb the shocks and treat his wounds
I would scrub the numbers from his flesh
extinguish the fire and give him back his life

Answer 3

Do you see the symbolism in the poem?

Answer 4

All i can see is that he feels guilty for having an easier life than his father

Answer 5

but am not completely sure if thats right

Answer 6

Hmmm...

Symbolisation is the main idea of a story or poem so...

The answer will be that "a boy and his father and how they don't have a father son relationship so its mainly about not having love".

Answer 7

The boy seems to love his father, this section in particular shows it

"If I could trade places with him
I would pad the rest of his days
wrap him in gauze and velvet
absorb the shocks and treat his wounds
I would scrub the numbers from his flesh
extinguish the fire and give him back his life"

The father seems to be damaged some how. Clearly he has undergone some severe ordeal. He's a different person now.

"My father won’t talk about the numbers"
"There were stories in the lines on his face"
"I am drowning in his silence
trying to stay afloat on curiosity
Questions choke me and I swallow hard"

The boy knows that his father has a story, behind these numbers. He wants to know. He drowns in the silence because he wants to know. That's why questions choke him, and he must swallow hard so that he can breath. Trying to "stay afloat on curiosity."

Answer 8

"We don’t breathe the same air
speak the same language
live in the same universe
We are continents, worlds apart
I am sorry my life has remained unscathed
His scars still bleed, his bruises don’t fade"

This in particular shows that he has undergone some tragic ordeal. It makes him different than his son, enough to say that he doesn't breath the same air, speak the same language, or live in the same universe. The son loves his father, but the father is distant from his son. He seems to be sorry that he has escaped life "unscathed."

I could go on about the love clearly shown in the symbolism here. If you need help identifying it, let me know. But as for the theme, I believe @Nonportrit is correct in that it deals with a father son relationship.

"A father has undergone some devastating ordeal which has estranged him from his son; though his son recognizes the pain his father has undergone, and loves him dearly."

The symbolism shows the lack of a strong father - son relationship, even though the son loves him.

Answer 9

I do think though that you should consider the first stanza, and some of it's lines. Particularly these:

"Instead, he spreads himself over me
spilling his protection, like acid, until it burns
I wear him like a cloak, sweat under the weight"

Whilst the father won't talk about his ordeal, he still attempts to be a father to his son. Perhaps it is not the best way. Perhaps it is damaging. But he is trying, even in his damaged state.

Answer 10

And if you need to point out symbolism, those lines will work well.

Answer 11

thank you so much!!

Answer 12

No problem.