In this poem, the author uses several conceits. A conceit is a type of metaphor that compares two unlikely things in a surprising or clever way. The unlikelihood of the comparisons often strengthens the impact of the conceits. In the case of the poem "Tattoo," the author uses conceits in two main ways. The first one is the fact that the author tries to emphasize the physical distance between him and his father by using the metaphor of continents and worlds. The second one is the fact that the author uses concrete items to talk about attacks and a desire to protect (gauze, velvet, etc.), when he is actually referring to emotional, not physical scars.
