The Tattooed Poets Project - Heather Truett

Up next on the Tattooed Poets Project is <a href="http://madamerubieswrites.blogspot.com/">Heather Truett</a>, who sent us this photo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfDHhQhECwEKiMfzVHGSPp7MyS3uLozRdGUszzVzYb46CusZ-MpDGZk2DnNYybaN2l1-IBIjRirox05YpuVzCF2GRK9GOJEnREmQk3ZP8F0tFBGamZ3pY_8RoNadlA-Asfd5J2KpU2E8/s800/DSCN0376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfDHhQhECwEKiMfzVHGSPp7MyS3uLozRdGUszzVzYb46CusZ-MpDGZk2DnNYybaN2l1-IBIjRirox05YpuVzCF2GRK9GOJEnREmQk3ZP8F0tFBGamZ3pY_8RoNadlA-Asfd5J2KpU2E8/s400/DSCN0376.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />along with a shot of the tattooist at work:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-gEHi4XzKwlvfu-E5TcMft9mJEjn3Uc9ioWQuWJEwyk3izkvtoUgk1LqM-9Ch82IsZtigVNRYTiTz6fvvUaM8ykiVGtpv1uA1BKFZ4xwknIXAXP5SzSaxuEg9syGFpJoc56d1Leyjl8/s0-d/DSCN0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-gEHi4XzKwlvfu-E5TcMft9mJEjn3Uc9ioWQuWJEwyk3izkvtoUgk1LqM-9Ch82IsZtigVNRYTiTz6fvvUaM8ykiVGtpv1uA1BKFZ4xwknIXAXP5SzSaxuEg9syGFpJoc56d1Leyjl8/s0-d/DSCN0375.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />These may appear as three seemingly simple Hebrew letters, but there is more to this piece than just a Hebrew word, as Heather elaborates: <br /><blockquote>“The tattoo was a 27th birthday gift from a girlfriend I have known since I was 6 and she was 3. We went together. She got a Latin phrase in a beautiful script and I chose this. I had been planning a tattoo to somehow commemorate a friend who died and my own battle with depression. The verse in scripture that speaks most to me is <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+61%3A3&version=NIV">Isaiah 61:3</a>, which includes the phrase ‘beauty for ashes.’ The girl I wanted to commemorate, Natalie, also loved the verse. On a whim, I looked the verse up in Hebrew. I always love following a verse back to its origin and trying to understand what the words actually meant to the writer, rather than placing all trust in modern translation. When I realized the Hebrew word used to mean beauty in that verse actually means, ‘a crown of beauty,’ as in, a young girl being crowned queen and given honor and status in society, I knew I had my tattoo. </blockquote><blockquote>You see, every year, on the anniversary of the day Natalie died, her friends around the world don tiaras and wear them wherever they go. We paint our toenails purple, as she loved to do, and we drink a Diet Coke in her honor. There are other rituals, but these are the big three. To find the word ‘crown’ hidden there in my verse left me in tears, good tears, the kind of crying you do when someone at last understands exactly who you are and what you mean to them. I printed and double-checked the Hebrew lettering and took it with me to <a href="http://www.myspace.com/devinestreettattoo">Devine Street Tattoo</a> on a visit to Columbia, SC. It's not fancy, just three letters. But those three letters say so much to me every time I look at them. I placed the word on the inside of my left ankle, so when I look down or cross my legs, I see the tattoo. I don't mind showing it to other people, and I love telling how I chose it and why I got it, but it is, ultimately, for me and me alone, so I wanted it in a place easy for me to see."</blockquote>By way of a poem, Heather submitted this:<br /><br /><b>My Brother is the Poem</b><br /><br />My brother is the poem that exists,<br />still busily writing itself<br />in the hills of my hometown.<br />He leaves for work, welding<br />in leather and heat and without<br />a single complaint, because, hell!<br />He needs the job.<br />He strings out verse and stanza,<br />tripping over the meter<br />on seventy acres of God's creation.<br />Don't let them mine you too,<br />Big Brother.<br /><br />It's with rhythm and flow that<br />he pays the bills and loves the wife and<br />suffers the pain of parenthood that stabs<br />with its cliche sword, double-edged.<br />Who knew? Who predicted<br />snowflakes and razorblades?<br />My brother, cigarette lit and smoke circling,<br />is the poetry falling<br />to earth, right there,<br />in Eastern Kentucky, while I<br />only call myself a poet, writing<br />in the air conditioned suburb, pretending<br />I got out, when I never did,<br /><br />not really, anyhow.<br /><br />Years pass and miles unroll like<br />so much butcher paper<br />down the holler, but my body still grows roots<br />back home, there, in Nat's Creek,<br />Daniel's Creek, Homer's trailer,<br />white house with black shutters,<br />minnow fishing, snake killing,<br />coal mining with the black lung,<br />family and the most Primitive of<br />Baptist churches, where<br />my soul gets fed, and only then<br />can the poem<br />grow branches.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><br /> Heather Truett describes herself as “Hill-born, a coal miner's granddaughter, a brilliant spark of brain with a wee bit of crazy thrown in for good measure, a writer, a poet, a wife in the bizarre world of the church, wearer of silver tiaras and painter of purple toenails, I am me. I have published poetry, essays and articles in the past. My credits include: <a href="http://www.themomegg.com/themomegg/Home.html">The Mom Egg</a>, <a href="http://www.paintsvilleherald.com/">The Paintsville Herald</a>, <a href="http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/">Jackson Free Press</a>, Slugfest Ltd, Abundance Press, <a href="http://www.invitationtupelo.com/">The Invitation Tupelo</a>, <a href="http://www.busyparentsonline.com/index.htm">Busy Parents Online</a>, Mommy Tales, Just For Mom and other publications (more info available on my website, www.madamerubies.com). I am currently a homeschooling Mom to a special needs child and the wife of a youth minister in Tupelo, Mississippi. I have taught poetry workshops in schools and for the homeschool co-op we participate in each semester.” You can also check out her website, <a href="http://madamerubieswrites.blogspot.com/">madamerubieswrites.blogspot.com</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Heather for her contribution to the Tattooed Poets Project!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2012 Tattoosday. The poem and tattoo are reprinted with the poet's permission. </span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit http://tattoosday.blogspot.com and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span>

The Tattooed Poets Project - Heather Truett

Up next on the Tattooed Poets Project is Heather Truett , who sent us this photo: along with a shot of the tattooist at work: These may appe...

Read more »

Ryan's Religious Verse

I met Ryan at the end of September outside of Madison Square Garden, approaching him to ask about this tattoo on his upper right arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7k9osoABXhS1wFXKECZF35B_LdyQxeCvxbcPG2OwG8kuYhB9eHBuZNT3qUAM0hsV-6r58L_Xzs52zsgNp4jO_mmcdI-PM6SQBGbmc-ocrTsO9GEIMXfaFsjNIkM_-h4sV6U1Zxq1E6s/s1600/philippians.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7k9osoABXhS1wFXKECZF35B_LdyQxeCvxbcPG2OwG8kuYhB9eHBuZNT3qUAM0hsV-6r58L_Xzs52zsgNp4jO_mmcdI-PM6SQBGbmc-ocrTsO9GEIMXfaFsjNIkM_-h4sV6U1Zxq1E6s/s640/philippians.jpg" width="292" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He explained that <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A13&version=ASV">Philippians 4:13</a> was his confirmation verse. He added, "I went with the hands and everything because I already have a cross on my back."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Philippians 4:13 reads "I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me." (American Standard Version)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The chain in the hands connects to this part of the tattoo on the bicep:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3es5_km4I5U9OdabsvMRR_ffpPoA1oC7cXGQFhJ94ZXvaFiThp58_opf4UxzincjBpuJWiUj957FOHSQSHFYfoIMq7uHHlDxaIar3nuaT9yhG0aLdLH4sQguHqhH2dOJiFOAkBuJgZU/s1600/Only+God+can+judge+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3es5_km4I5U9OdabsvMRR_ffpPoA1oC7cXGQFhJ94ZXvaFiThp58_opf4UxzincjBpuJWiUj957FOHSQSHFYfoIMq7uHHlDxaIar3nuaT9yhG0aLdLH4sQguHqhH2dOJiFOAkBuJgZU/s400/Only+God+can+judge+me.jpg" width="371" /></a></div><br />Ryan commented that "I put <i>only God can judge me</i> because I've been going through some legal difficulties." It's a reminder that, when all is said and done, the ultimate judge is, in the belief of many, above and beyond the world in which we live.<br /><br />Ryan credits Joe Bawden from <a href="http://www.skinalternativetattoo.com/">Skin Alternative</a> in Hillside, New Jersey, with this tattoo.<br /><br />Thanks to Ryan for sharing his ink with us here on Tattoosday!

Ryan's Religious Verse

I met Ryan at the end of September outside of Madison Square Garden, approaching him to ask about this tattoo on his upper right arm:   He e...

Read more »

Holy Ship! Isaac's Vessel and a Biblical Quote

There are a few tattoo artists whose work is so good that, when I'm lucky enough to stumble upon one of their clients, I consider it a great day.<br /><br />Such was the case on a Monday in August on the Upper West Side, when I stopped Isaac in Trader Joe's as he walked past me. I knew, even before he told me who the artist was, that this piece was special:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfA7MqFL_Cv-qcuGFsAlqsE1hZ7Tm9UlPPve9MTmkOx7RlCsDGPOViVhAK9EYxdHH11RFrjrgZSnC5mkl4MeyG6Bs1DnS1AOZfVHh1D8-7byXlNjCvgyMNWkqtADRY8pP8SLz2a-anAwo/s1600/Amanda+Ship+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfA7MqFL_Cv-qcuGFsAlqsE1hZ7Tm9UlPPve9MTmkOx7RlCsDGPOViVhAK9EYxdHH11RFrjrgZSnC5mkl4MeyG6Bs1DnS1AOZfVHh1D8-7byXlNjCvgyMNWkqtADRY8pP8SLz2a-anAwo/s640/Amanda+Ship+1.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><br />Isaac explained that this ship was inked by the amazing <a href="http://www.amandawachobtattoo.com/">Amanda Wachob</a> of <a href="http://www.daredeviltattoo.com/">Dare Devil Tattoo</a> in Manhattan. Amanda was featured in a small post in the <i>New York Times</i> earlier this year <a href="http://6thfloor.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/23/who-made-that-tattoo/">here</a>. I have been fortunate enough to stumble across her work personally once before, as documented in <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/10/jackies-vintage-postcard.html">this post</a> from last October.<br /><br />Isaac explained that this ship was inspired by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Dutchman">The Flying Dutchman</a>, a painting by Albert Pinkham Ryder.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yNnBDdZOtbBWnGCa1Occ75StqcPOXFo3SeCP1cMyYI4AZVvmDr6L-p3l8xkOG8KyEkFdH9BiZG3O5zMAHi3idk-IrTRb4crn6uFBvDPDLabsqrmt4NQ6dRAaiBJdftIK6Zuh3ibiO_k/s1600/724px-Flying_Dutchman%252C_the.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yNnBDdZOtbBWnGCa1Occ75StqcPOXFo3SeCP1cMyYI4AZVvmDr6L-p3l8xkOG8KyEkFdH9BiZG3O5zMAHi3idk-IrTRb4crn6uFBvDPDLabsqrmt4NQ6dRAaiBJdftIK6Zuh3ibiO_k/s320/724px-Flying_Dutchman%252C_the.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />One of the amazing things about Amanda Wachob's work is how her tattoos look like they are painted onto the skin. Check out the front of Isaac's ship:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogO6k4H_KBUZ5X-3qcZNkHoaO93SzEPS6ahwRCGt-wIHj2xAzdDwUqUfDOUaqGA72C_exM3AaUWClk8BgF9w85waiLJx7bw9rNlRWRjFr7TMmry-0gSyOmuZDJ1wJJOC6SJPGV-rT-jk/s1600/Amanda+ship+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogO6k4H_KBUZ5X-3qcZNkHoaO93SzEPS6ahwRCGt-wIHj2xAzdDwUqUfDOUaqGA72C_exM3AaUWClk8BgF9w85waiLJx7bw9rNlRWRjFr7TMmry-0gSyOmuZDJ1wJJOC6SJPGV-rT-jk/s640/Amanda+ship+2.jpg" width="393" /></a></div><br />"I used to write 'I'm a Son' on my arm all the time," Isaac told me, "as in a son of God," so he refers to this as his sonship.<br /><br />He also shared this piece on his left biceps:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHyLLiHkzn3GSIpyS488su0mWizkFDBxsJUjGmLuZK7x6Wk-UpYiZpGSJmC9AsrZx6lY7aVRQUVyKQpG7_kOrY-E4ZH-xjouR0DgFMBlIE2tSfgwcwufDr5qcIQyKBkTBh6DpAPyHfZM/s1600/love+is.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHyLLiHkzn3GSIpyS488su0mWizkFDBxsJUjGmLuZK7x6Wk-UpYiZpGSJmC9AsrZx6lY7aVRQUVyKQpG7_kOrY-E4ZH-xjouR0DgFMBlIE2tSfgwcwufDr5qcIQyKBkTBh6DpAPyHfZM/s400/love+is.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This is a Biblical reference, from 1 Corinthians 13, Verses 4-8. The passage is<br /><blockquote>"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." </blockquote>Isaac and his wife have the same piece, with hers being on her right arm. I love the font that the artist used. He attributed it to Kelly at <a href="http://www.eastsideinktattoo.com/">East Side Ink</a>. Kelly is absent from the shop website, so must have been a former or visiting artist.<br /><br />Thanks so much to Isaac for sharing these wonderful tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div>

Holy Ship! Isaac's Vessel and a Biblical Quote

There are a few tattoo artists whose work is so good that, when I'm lucky enough to stumble upon one of their clients, I consider it a g...

Read more »

See Emily's Foot Tattoo

I met Emily in Penn Station and asked her about this, one of her three tattoos:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSStYl3nG7zHjlaByHckoCfQTxLfAHg5s0ChC9EzBWo0OgHdhtVSjtCQ8p2y8X6fh9amckfnGlONBuu7Dt661m0tB44Xob-sK9ditX3PoEdSfklNgks8wRrNMs3CHM0sZeRhJcsRgm2pc/s1600/Be+Not+Afraid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSStYl3nG7zHjlaByHckoCfQTxLfAHg5s0ChC9EzBWo0OgHdhtVSjtCQ8p2y8X6fh9amckfnGlONBuu7Dt661m0tB44Xob-sK9ditX3PoEdSfklNgks8wRrNMs3CHM0sZeRhJcsRgm2pc/s400/Be+Not+Afraid.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><br />The phrase "Be not afraid, only believe" is from the Bible, more specifically, the Book of <a href="http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Bible,_King_James,_Mark">Mark</a>, Chapter 5, Verse 36, <a href="http://www.kingjamesbible.com/">King James version</a>.<br /><br />What does this mean to Emily? "No matter what," she said, "always remember what's mean to be will happen...".<br /><br />A nice sentiment indeed. This tattoo was done by "Petey" at <a href="http://www.immortalink.com/">Immortal Ink</a> in Clinton, New Jersey.<br /><br />Thanks to Emily for sharing her tattoo with us here on <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/">Tattoosday</a>!<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday.<br /><br />If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit </span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div>

See Emily's Foot Tattoo

I met Emily in Penn Station and asked her about this, one of her three tattoos: The phrase "Be not afraid, only believe" is from t...

Read more »

Sara's Psalm Speaks to the Desires of Her Heart

I met Sara on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/36th_Street_%28BMT_Fourth_Avenue_Line%29">36th Street subway platform</a> in Brooklyn last month during the late afternoon rush hour commute.<br /><br />What can I say? I'm a sucker for words and this tattoo looked poetic:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibT1nz-z_MUNo8y22uF9IiAaPXImS7mBgnhIyUXos00-OHkbcaPId8xGpgWxsWA9lbYB2sxrG50O4nWYbvYAwLlmND1gQINJUUVssN-CmMG2sppN_c6Mv1JGAFEWh5ZiJhbAyZfk_x/s1600/Psalm+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibT1nz-z_MUNo8y22uF9IiAaPXImS7mBgnhIyUXos00-OHkbcaPId8xGpgWxsWA9lbYB2sxrG50O4nWYbvYAwLlmND1gQINJUUVssN-CmMG2sppN_c6Mv1JGAFEWh5ZiJhbAyZfk_x/s640/Psalm+wm.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />Sara filled me in. She has three tattoos and this passage "spoke to her". She wanted something religious for her 30th birthday.<br /><br />This is an excerpt (verse 4) from Psalm 37 in the Bible.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYGwMhlFdzWJLucSmWqstT9jd2IAN5EhMpEkqELAfylv8djJjTOaYj3ptssPjTx0k7DhaMBgZmk7S5_bPyfJVZ9HP7BMosIiq3AhL6TMgX3wwb3wjzyIxJGR-BM9kUFauNZSMwQn9/s1600/Psalm+Detail+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYGwMhlFdzWJLucSmWqstT9jd2IAN5EhMpEkqELAfylv8djJjTOaYj3ptssPjTx0k7DhaMBgZmk7S5_bPyfJVZ9HP7BMosIiq3AhL6TMgX3wwb3wjzyIxJGR-BM9kUFauNZSMwQn9/s400/Psalm+Detail+wm.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br />The verse reads "Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" [King James Version]. Sara changed the <i>thee </i>and <i>thine </i>to read <i>me </i>and <i>my</i>, respectively, making the verse more personal.<br /><br />This was tattooed by <a href="http://www.brooklyninktattoo.com/alex_tattoos.html">Alex Franklin</a> at <a href="http://www.brooklyninktattoo.com/">Brooklyn Ink</a> in Bay Ridge. Work from Brooklyn Ink (and much from Alex) can be seen on this Tattoosday label <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Brooklyn%20Ink">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Sara for sharing her source of inspiration with us here on Tattoosday!

Sara's Psalm Speaks to the Desires of Her Heart

I met Sara on the 36th Street subway platform in Brooklyn last month during the late afternoon rush hour commute. What can I say? I'm a...

Read more »

Adam's Tattoos Honor God and Country

On April 28th, I was walking across <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Plaza">Penn Plaza</a>, outside of <a href="http://www.thegarden.com/">Madison Square Garden</a>, and saw a couple of guys taking pictures.<br /><br />This is fairly common outside of "the world's most famous arena".<br /><br />Depending on the event going on that day or night, one can get an eyefull of tattoo ink. When there is a rock concert scheduled, there is quite a few visible tattoos on the plaza, when the <a href="http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/">Westminster dog show's</a> in town, not so much.<br /><br />On this particular day, there was a <a href="http://www.wwe.com/">WWE</a> wrestling event at the Garden, and the guys I saw taking pictures were waiting for the show to begin.<br /><br />I approached and met Adam, who had this very cool tattoo on his right bicep:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNibqPywIkoDrJk-SP7pAYYlvDO7F9A13UNh2S-sdTBeG1tlOzNuOgDR-Ewz5Lo1Zr5T1nREquHxXOuhjXnqutDVJJR-50iSfvAY9XXWGaQhnIaw128tutkQIBCMlOIod7tKEAH05oWAA/s1600-h/torn+flesh.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334873333090356674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNibqPywIkoDrJk-SP7pAYYlvDO7F9A13UNh2S-sdTBeG1tlOzNuOgDR-Ewz5Lo1Zr5T1nREquHxXOuhjXnqutDVJJR-50iSfvAY9XXWGaQhnIaw128tutkQIBCMlOIod7tKEAH05oWAA/s400/torn+flesh.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The piece is designed to flow with his musculature and falls under what I call the "torn flesh" category of tattooing. That is, the tattoo takes on an additional dimension, as it is inked to appear as if the flesh is ripped away, allowing the viewer to see what lies below the skin.<br /><br />In Adam's case, he bleeds red, white and blue in the form of the American flag. His patriotism is exemplified by this tattoo. As a member of the <a href="http://www.airforce.com/">United States Air Force</a>, he serves our country proudly, and his tattoo is a symbol of how his love of our country runs deep.<br /><br />Adam also wanted to show me his back piece, a religious-themed work that reflects his faith:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgla4FCkEXhrGjzJsZZU36-1AWi_VbZV5idRIj9r1B9OLjvUCGZBKtXvIZBofObrL7uYIAOWfYp03eqYrMyovJe-29lCLOoan1ShiqCpBd2Ifmfb9AiYVmAYWlOlDMUnK3dhTupF_Q2pt8/s1600-h/Adams+cross2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334872280895843458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgla4FCkEXhrGjzJsZZU36-1AWi_VbZV5idRIj9r1B9OLjvUCGZBKtXvIZBofObrL7uYIAOWfYp03eqYrMyovJe-29lCLOoan1ShiqCpBd2Ifmfb9AiYVmAYWlOlDMUnK3dhTupF_Q2pt8/s400/Adams+cross2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The cross takes up most of the space, and is anchored by a banner that proclaims "May God Have Mercy".<br /><br />There are also two biblical verses on either side of the cross at the top of the back.<br /><br />The left is from the book of <a href="http://joe-beardsworth.blogspot.com/2008/01/joshua-19-nrsv.html">Joshua, Chapter 1, Verse 9</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Revised_Standard_Version">New Revised Standard Version</a>):<br /><blockquote><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" xmlns="">"Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."</span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" xmlns=""></span><br />The right is from lines 14 and 15 of <a href="http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalm+91&vnum=yes&version=nrsv">Psalm 91</a> (also <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Revised_Standard_Version">NRSV</a>):<br /><br /><blockquote>"Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them..."<br /></blockquote><br />All the work shown here on Adam was inked by Adrian at <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/planet/kensunderground/home.html">Ken's Underground</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dover,_Delaware">Dover, Delaware.</a><br /><br />Thanks to Adam for sharing his awesome tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Adam's Tattoos Honor God and Country

On April 28th, I was walking across Penn Plaza , outside of Madison Square Garden , and saw a couple of guys taking pictures. This is fairly...

Read more »

Melissa's Biblical Footnote

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WuRic5Jz7bXQqq2ATEt5TxRyK5WpZCrtmGp1H0aBQY3BricabGyuE1KnO6CS1CYtcBd3p0nunZ3xxXkZJVtQwWdZcV3tsVf2UQxY4LdHzID8XzPshLRYaDwEmAjJa1YCVFuMY-lFDoF3/s1600-h/PICT0754.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247523409041171922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WuRic5Jz7bXQqq2ATEt5TxRyK5WpZCrtmGp1H0aBQY3BricabGyuE1KnO6CS1CYtcBd3p0nunZ3xxXkZJVtQwWdZcV3tsVf2UQxY4LdHzID8XzPshLRYaDwEmAjJa1YCVFuMY-lFDoF3/s400/PICT0754.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Strange as it may seem to have back-to-back foot posts, this may be a trend as the weather cools and sleeves grow longer.<br /><br />I interrupted a conversation Melissa was having with someone else in front of <a href="http://www.bordersstores.com/stores/store_pg.jsp?storeID=582">Borders on Penn Plaza</a> to ask her about her inked right foot.<br /><br />The words are based on a passage from the Bible, from the Book of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Matthew">Matthew</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22:37">Chapter 22, Verse 37</a>, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your mind and all your soul." It's a slightly edited version, but the message is the same.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ooEFC6jfGZJfuk20P-V7U0e9DSoSd_cP21KIsRxU0a4wS-xjwYEFw_sKV1QoOlI4BwEEva5dkDnW9QWKBr2zYbxZ2-tbrLVCoZLSKyho8mYZ6MITLnTuOcLyADCfp1CjFfZr22T7qCqI/s1600-h/quote+mnini.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247524655646982178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ooEFC6jfGZJfuk20P-V7U0e9DSoSd_cP21KIsRxU0a4wS-xjwYEFw_sKV1QoOlI4BwEEva5dkDnW9QWKBr2zYbxZ2-tbrLVCoZLSKyho8mYZ6MITLnTuOcLyADCfp1CjFfZr22T7qCqI/s400/quote+mnini.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Melissa explained that these words have even more meaning for her as they are engraved on her father's headstone. He passed away several years back.<br /><br />This passage was inked by <a href="http://lonewolftattoo.com/craig.html">Craig Messina</a> at <a href="http://lonewolftattoo.com/">Lone Wolf Tattoo</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bellmores,_New_York">Bellmore, New York</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Melissa for sharing this tattoo that means so much to her, here at Tattoosday.

Melissa's Biblical Footnote

Strange as it may seem to have back-to-back foot posts, this may be a trend as the weather cools and sleeves grow longer. I interrupted a co...

Read more »