Dhikr (Remembrance)

I sat down in my cell 
and broke a cardinal rule
And got a tattoo of your name

I melted a plastic chess piece 
and collected the rising soot in a cup
And mixed it with 2 equal parts 
of shampoo and water

Then I took a staple and sharpened it to a point
And tied it to the end of a pencil
With string I pulled out of my blanket

I drew your name -
9 block letters, backwards 
Then, took some Speed stick 
and smeared it

On the inside of my forearm 
and pressed the slip of paper to my skin
Making a perfect fax

Then I took the needle, that used to be a staple
And picked...
And picked...
And picked...

Following the lines of my skin, 
stoic to the pain

And when I was done
There was your name, emblazoned

Now and forever, 
a reminder
Of my Holocaust