I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

In mythology, symbolism and tattoo art, birds traditionally have positive associations with freedom and expression. The flight of birds leads them to serve as symbols of the link between heaven and earth and to symbolise spiritual and emotional states.

The bird escapes

The free bird leaps
on the back of the win
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rageBirds
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and is tune is heard
on the distant hillfor the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
an the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawnFree Bird
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.Little birds

Maya Angelou

Photos: source unknown.

Art is Erotic.

get-your-tat-out

Feature boy: Christopher Parnell (author of Ginger Fashion Blog)

Chris Parnell

Christopher Parnell feeds my tattoo imagination with his beautiful and somewhat erotic tattoo. Although he says he got most of his tattoos randomly, for me they embody his personal tastes and stylish dress sense. An arty type, these tattoos reflect his flair and flamboyant nature.

Klimt is one of his favourite artists along with Tamara de Lempicka, Tracy Emin and Mucha. He loves the original drawing of ‘The Blood of Fish’, because of its sinister and passionate nature.

It’s a possibility that he will have more tattoos one day, preferably by his favourite artists or work that he loves.  He also has an uncoloured English rose, a Courtney Love lyric, and 3 stars he got when he was 16.

Hopefully Chris will feature in this blog again soon with the rest of his tattoos and future works of art. But unfortunately at the minute his camera is buggered.

Blood of Fish
The Blood of Fish, Gustav Klimt

Chris’s tattoo, a beautiful replica of Klimt’s erotic masterpiece.
(that’s the inside of his arm by the way…!)

Chris's Blood of Fish

Arm and Cardigan.

Arm tattoo

I love the mix of the vintage looking wool cardigan, chipped nails, jewellery and dainty, feminine tattoo that could quite easily go unseen…I love tattoos that can remain invisible if you wish them to and just add a little interest to your skin.

Photo: unknown source.

Custom tattoos by Paul McCartney.

Actress Emma Stone got Paul McCartney to design matching tattoos for her and her Mother. The tattoos commemorate the recovery of her Mother from breast cancer, after being diagnosed two years ago. The tattoo is of two little bird feet, as their favourite song is Blackbird.

This is another beautiful way to think about tattoos as a permanent memory of a time in your life. Translating song words into pictorial representations also provides inspiration to those of us who have not yet been inked and can’t decide what we want…anyone fancy a yellow submarine?

I hope we get to see pictures very soon.

Emma and Paul