In the beginning of September I started what would be the first of four sessions to get a new tattoo. When I was twenty I got a tribal arm band around my left bicep.

A picture of my armband. Of course I’m’ drinking wine.

It’s been a part of me for over seventeen years (yes, do the math, I’m thirty-seven) but for a while I’d been wanting something a little different. I found Hayden Abernathy at Marlowe Ink and after meeting with her I knew she was the artist for me. I explained what I wanted, what I liked, and my concern that I didn’t know how to pull it all together into a coherent design. “Don’t worry about that,” she said, “it’s my job to make it work.” And with that reassurance, I scheduled my first appointment.

I emailed her about ten or so designs I liked and when I went in for my first appointment she showed me her ideas. I loved how she pulled the things I liked together and made it into a cohesive design. My first appointment lasted three hours. During that time we chatted and I mentioned I am a poet. Hayden confessed she didn’t know any poets. Then she said, “Will you write me a poem?” Admittedly, I’m always a little nervous about agreeing to write a poem for someone because it can be a bit intimidating and they may not like what I write. Before I could say yes Hayden continued, “I even have the title for it – Nicotine Queen. Isn’t that great?” I laughed and agreed it was a pretty great title and then I agreed to writing a poem for her.

When I gave the poem to Hayden before my third session she literally shrieked with excitement, which is probably the best response to a poem ever. She was so giddy about it she texted it to her fiance and another friend, stating I was the best client. Then we got down to business of working on my tattoo. Another three hours later it was getting ever closer to being done, but it would require one final session.

My last session was the day after the election which was a very hard day for me. The session started with a hug from Hayden and tears from me. Then we got down to business.

Final session

Finally, after a total of about 12 hours, 10 of which were actual tattooing, my new quarter sleeve was complete. Both Hayden and I were pleased with the end result.

Hayden and I

And of course, she’s memorialized in a poem, so she’ll always be remembered.

Nicotine Queen

                  – for Hayden

She doesn’t smoke but chews

piece after piece

of Nicorette gum – addicted

to both the drug surging

in and the snap and pop

as she chews.

She starts with three

pieces but when we take 

a break she puts down her gun

and pops another piece.

“I tried the generic stuff,”

she says as she leans forward

to inspect the fresh ink

she’s added to my skin,

“but it’s not as good.”

By the end of my three-hour

session she’s chewed her way

through a pack and my arm

is covered with ink dancing

up my skin to the beat

of her snap and pop. 

*

And finally, here’s the finished product:

My new quarter sleeve. =)