Point of View

“Tattoo” is written from the third-person point of view and readers will feel as though the speaker is a neutral, third-party observer rather than the direct voice of the poet. Readers cannot forget that there is a speaker, but he keeps himself out of the imagery and allows readers to connect with the older man and his meandering journey through the yard sale. The point of view is significant because it allows Kooser to open the poem to each reader’s interpretation with a tone of voice that does not feel heavy-handed or overwhelming.

Language and Meaning

Readers can connect with Kooser as the language of the poem is conversational and he seems to implore readers to engage with him and think about their own lives and how they have changed. The contrasting language between the violent description of the tattoo and the soft heart...