Black script tattoo of the quote Si vis pacem, para bellum on the inner upper arm, with the arm flexed and a hand with red nails pointing at it.

Latin and English quote on upper arm

Lettering · Upper arm · Black and grey · Photo

The tattoo is two lines of black cursive script, the Latin phrase Si vis pacem, para bellum above its English translation, If you want peace, prepare for war. It runs across the inner upper arm on a flexed bicep, with a hand pointing at the text. The image is in colour, with a soft, blurred dark background and the ink appearing black and grey against the skin.

Lettering Upper arm Script Quote Latin text Calligraphy

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A story inspired by this tattoo · fiction

Dear Arthur,

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The band packed up at half eleven and I stayed behind to sweep the sprung floor, the way Dad taught us, sawdust first and then the chalk. Mr Okafor from the bakery was still waiting by the coat hooks with his hat in both hands, pretending he hadn't come for the last waltz. I told him the hall was shut. He asked whether you had gone yet. I said Thursday.

You'll laugh, but I've been thinking about the words Dad had painted over the proscenium before the Corporation sold the place. Si vis pacem, para bellum. He translated it for every new dancer who asked, and he never once made it sound like a threat. He said it was a promise to whoever was watching the gate, so they could sleep. I used to think it was the most miserable sentence in the world for a building full of foxtrots.

Sit with the men who've already been out there, Arthur. Ask them what they think it means. Then write and tell me, because I'd like to know whether the sentence was ever true or only something people needed to say before they danced.

Keep your boots dry and your chin up. Come home and lead me round the floor once, badly, the way you always did.

Love, Nell