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.
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R.K. Lightfoot 