Almost six years ago, shortly after I moved to New York City, @theferocity and I went to @3kingstattoo in Brooklyn and got matching Basquiat crowns.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👑" title="Krone" aria-label="Emoji: Krone"> Here is the essay Saeed wrote about those tattoos for Pen & Ink (art, of course, by
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💎" title="Edelstein" aria-label="Emoji: Edelstein"> @wendymac):
Today, on the eve before @theferocity leaves New York City, we went back to @3kingstattoo in Brooklyn, Kings County.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👑" title="Krone" aria-label="Emoji: Krone"> @theferocity had promised himself he would get a tattoo to celebrate the completion of his incredible forthcoming memoir, How We Fight for Our Lives.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧡" title="Orangefarbenes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Orangefarbenes Herz">
The tattoo artist – kaylynryan_tattoo on Instagram – was an absolute talent.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🖤" title="Schwarzes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Schwarzes Herz">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👑" title="Krone" aria-label="Emoji: Krone">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Funken" aria-label="Emoji: Funken"> – bei Three Kings Tattoo Parlor
I got mine on a whim and chose my tattoo out of Kaylyn& #39;s book.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌿" title="Kräuter" aria-label="Emoji: Kräuter">
And yes, there is this... I am watching @theferocity& #39;s plants.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">
But the real thing this tattoo is about, for me, is it& #39;s about light. It& #39;s about growth. Because @theferocity is leaving tomorrow, & his light has fed me the entirety of our friendship. It& #39;s a light that has changed me. And I& #39;m going to miss him after tomorrow when he moves away.
But I know he& #39;s never going to stop shining.
Never stop being light.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌿" title="Kräuter" aria-label="Emoji: Kräuter">
Never stop being light.
I& #39;m gonna miss you, buddy.
But I know you& #39;ll be out there shining.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🖤" title="Schwarzes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Schwarzes Herz">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌊" title="Wasserwelle" aria-label="Emoji: Wasserwelle">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌿" title="Kräuter" aria-label="Emoji: Kräuter">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Funken" aria-label="Emoji: Funken">
But I know you& #39;ll be out there shining.
With HUGE thanks to Kaylyn Ryan and the good folks at @3kingstattoo.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🖤" title="Schwarzes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Schwarzes Herz">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Funken" aria-label="Emoji: Funken"> – bei Three Kings Tattoo Parlor
Epilogue
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏🏻" title="Folded hands (heller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands (heller Hautton)">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Funken" aria-label="Emoji: Funken"> https://twitter.com/theferocity/status/1167854704006696960">https://twitter.com/theferoci...