3 MAY 1930, Page 13

The Tattooer

I KNEW an old man once who drew designs

Meant for tattooing sailors ; all his days He spent in drawing, planning different ways Of ornamenting limbs with blue outlines Of curling snakes, and shells, and clustering vines, Or birds with outspread wings—hawks, herons, jays And swallows—or with ivy in long sprays, And waves and flames and all that curves and twines, So skilfully arranged the lines would flow From one fine shape to one more yet—but though He made such splendid drawings, they confused His clients who just wanted here a heart Or there a flag ; none understood his art. . . .

The man is dead, his patterns all unused.

CAMILLA. DOYLE.