Colour neo-traditional tattoo of a brown owl holding a red heart, framed by black scrollwork on the upper arm.

Owl and red heart on upper arm

Neo-trad · Upper arm · Colour · Photo

A brown and orange owl with large dark eyes sits on a branch in the centre of the design, with a red heart on its chest edged with white dots. An ornate black scrolling frame with leaves and dotted accents surrounds the owl. Bold black outlines and smooth colour fills dominate, set against pale skin on the upper arm.

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A story inspired by this tattoo · fiction

Dear Ruth,

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The barn owl has taken the far end of the hay loft again, and Dad says we should leave him be until the lambing is over. I have been carrying his supper up in a tin lid, just a few mice I trap in the feed room, and he takes them without looking at me, the way you'd take a cup of tea from a man you don't much like.

The frost came in on Tuesday and stayed. The lane is white by seven and the water trough has a skin of ice on it that I have to break with the heel of the hoe. Mum's old scarf is holding up better than either of us. This morning I found a tuft of sheep's wool caught on the gate latch, rust-coloured, the same colour as the owl's feathers, and I've tucked it in the drawer where you keep your postcards.

Last night the heart came into it. Dad had a torn hinge on the back door and I held the lamp while he worked, and I saw the owl drop from the rafter onto the broken sill with a red ribbon hanging from his talons. It was the ribbon from the Christmas fair, the one you lost, and he sat there in the lamplight as if he meant to give it back to someone.

I didn't go near him. I left the lamp on the step and went to bed, and this morning the ribbon was folded on the feed tin, neat as a letter. I've kept it. Come home for the spring if you can, and bring the good tea. The owl will want to meet you.

Love, Nell

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