There is a tiny penguin
tattooed on my ankle.
It is not just a flightless bird.
No, it is my mother,
The woman who bought  
my first penguin
which began an obsession
that we share.
I am the egg she nurtured
without complaints.

I have a pink plush bunny as well.
He has an evil grin on his face,
but he means well.
Sometimes, he says naughty things
making me laugh
but it brightens up my day.
This charm belongs to my boyfriend,
the man I plan to marry
because he makes me feel beautiful
when I feel ugly.

An intricate azure rose
with a thorny stem
completes the trio for now.
It seems so cold for a person so warm
my closest friend
the one who kept me sane
during my panic attacks during finals.
I will keep her favorite flower
with me so it never wilts
as our friendship
can only grow.