Preemption

When my 16-year-old told me
Just what he intended to do,
I knew I had to stop him
–He was getting a tattoo

Now my distress would never
Have any effect on him–
My rebel has no doubt
His dad’s incurably dim.

So how to dissuade the boy
Without beating him black and blue?
The answer came like a bolt–
I got a tattoo!