Tattoo

The tattoo is a symbol of time within the poem. Kooser writes of the tattoo’s conflicting role as an expression of the self but the inability of tattoos to change over time even as people change and evolve throughout their lives.

Stallion

The stallion is a symbol of youth and masculinity. The old man is referred to as a strong stallion in his youth, a personality that was a driving force in getting the tattoo and aligning with the way the outside world perceived him.