mob – R.K. Lightfoot

Stripped before the Vor, and sitting in a chair

My life story put before them, laid bare

The Cross on my chest, represents no religious affliction

No, the Thieves’ Cross represents my conviction

The hooded figure, a mark that makes me grin

A cherished reminder that I’ve killed kin

Madonna with child, indicates the cell as my home

Ships with full sails, say I steal when I roam

The white cross on black, is marked on my hand

Time spent in solitary, is denoted by that brand

Medals display my contempt for authority

These painted marks, display my superiority

Without them, I’d be invisible to the Vor

In this life you are your tattoos, and nothing more

Pleased with the story, they mark my shoulders and knees

Now armed with eight-pointed stars, I hold the underworld’s keys

All those that opposed me, now turn heel and run

For these stars denote, that I kneel for no one.

– R. K. Lightfoot

Painted in his Past is a poem all about Russian prison tattoos and the importance of tattoos amongst many criminals in Russia. With a criminals collection of tattoo serving a record of his ‘achievements’ and as an indicator of his status within the criminal community. The idea for this poem came after watching the film Eastern Promises, in which the lead character is stripped before a group of Vor, essentially the Russian Mob equivalent of the Italian Mafia’s made man, and after inspecting his tattoos decide he is worthy of becoming a Vor himself and give eight-pointed star tattoos on his shoulders and knees to denote this.