Ink now, worry later

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Australian cricketer Michael Clarke.

Actress Eva Longoria Parker.

Singer Pink.

Footballer David Beckham with his son.

Actress Megan Fox

Actress Angelina Jolie.

Actor Tom Arnold and entertainer Victoria Beckham.

Former England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen.

Actress Hayden Panettiere and model/socialite Peaches Geldof.

Singer Lady Gaga.

NBA star LeBron James.

Rapper Eve and writer Diablo Cody.

Singer Kelly Osbourne.

Actress Lindsay Lohan.

Actresses Rumer Willis and Bai Ling

Singer Amy Winehouse.

New Zealand wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum.

Singer Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day.

Argentina football coach Diego Maradona.

British boxer Ricky Hatton.

Footballer David Beckham.

Singer Tommy Lee.

A portrait of actor Heath Ledger.

Actress Jaime King.

Singer Travis McCoy, of Gym Class Heroes.

Boxer Mike Tyson.

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Among the swirl of gossip during celebrity break-ups is often the thought: "What are they going to do about the tattoos?"

Following in the footsteps of actor Johnny Depp - who famously changed a tattoo from "Winona forever" to "Wino forever" after breaking up with actress Winona Ryder - questions are now being asked about cricketer Michael Clarke's ink.

When Clarke jetted in to Wellington Airport and the waiting media scrum, photographers got some up close shots of his visible tattoo collection.

Among them were the words "Carpe Diem", latin for seize the day, on his forearm.

Below that is Arabic text which has been the source of much debate in Australian media, with some saying it apparently reads "The pain of discipline is nothing like the pain of disappointment". Others suggest it features the phrase "seize control" and therefore is a translation of the pre-existing Latin tattoo.

Clarke has never commented on its meaning.

But the one surely to have everyone talking is the token to his ex-lover inked on Clarke's bicep. The massive tattoo, added in 2008, depicts a guardian angel sitting on a cross with the initials L.B. emblazoned at the top, near his shoulder.

One wonders if the pain of removal is more than the pain of a break up?

Less of a concern is Clarke's ex-fiancee's tattoo. Lara Bingle's small tattoo inside her wrist that reads "Wish you were here" is not in reference to Clarke, but instead a message for her late father Graham who died after a battle with liver and pancreatic cancer in 2008.

- © Fairfax NZ News