Black and grey botanical tattoo of leaves and sprigs on an upper arm, with the arm raised over a blue and white patterned sheet.

Enlarged with AI from a smaller original

Botanical foliage on an upper arm

Botanical · Upper arm · Black and grey · Photo

A fine-lined botanical design of leaves, slender branches and small scattered dots sweeps across the upper arm and elbow area. Shading in soft greys adds depth to the foliage, while a few small circular motifs sit among the leaves. The arm is raised against a blue and white patterned bedsheet, with a person lying down and only the ear and dark hair visible at the edge of the frame.

Botanical Upper arm Leaves Branches Foliage Sprig Dot Circle

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A story inspired by this tattoo · fiction

Dear Ines,

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The beds along the north terrace finally took. I know you said the sprigs would never root in that grey light, but Oskar cut them from the old hedge wall the morning before the shutters closed, and they have put out leaves the colour of wet slate. Don't tell him I said so. He has been insufferable since.

I have been sorting the seed drawers again, the ones Mother labelled in her square capitals. Most are empty now, or stuck together with damp. At the back of the bottom drawer I found a paper packet with nothing written on it except a little ring drawn in pencil, round as a coin, and beside it a scatter of dots like the ones she used to press into the margins of her ledgers. I think she was keeping something she couldn't name yet. I have decided it is ash-willow, the variety that grew before the river turned brown.

When the transport comes on the ninth, take the small tin with you and don't argue about the weight. Plant the packet wherever the soil is kindest. The first branches will spread out from a single stem, fine and unhurried, the way Mother drew them in the front of the almanac, and the dots will become leaves before you have finished being homesick.

If the willow takes, write and tell me. I will be out on the terrace each morning, counting the new growth against the wall, because somebody here has to keep the tally while you are away.