Jim Genzano explains his tattoo:

The tattoo says “Elendil,” the name of a character from J.R.R. Tolkien‘s Lord of the Rings, written in Tolkien‘s Tengwar script.  In the Elvish language Quenya, the name means “elf friend” or “star lover.” Elendil’s name written in this fashion was often used as his badge and a device on his seals.  I got the tattoo – my first – as a memorial tattoo after the death of my friend Star.  I liked the “star” connection, and also Tolkien‘s Lord of the Rings had a huge effect on me growing up and is still my favorite series of novels.  Star was also a fan.

(49 votes, average: 3.86 out of 5)

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Nieninque’s tattoo is from The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien.  It is Tolkien’s original illustration of Smaug for the book’s first edition.

(61 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)

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Andy submitted this birdcage tattoo:

I got this pen-and-ink drawing by Kurt Vonnegut on my arm on January 3rd. The empty birdcage never appeared in any of his novels, but refers to a specific scene in Breakfast of Champions. The scene consists of the book’s main character, Kilgore Trout, trying to set free a pet bird he’s kept for years. When the bird refuses to leave the cage, Trout says something to the effect of ”Good choice, Bill. Now you’ve still got something to wish for.”

The image first appeared as a silkscreen later in Vonnegut’s life, when he took up pen-and-ink drawing as a hobby. These were silkscreened in limited numbers and sold on Vonnegut’s website. It became the front page of his official website on the day he died.

I began reading Kurt Vonnegut when I was thirteen and found my way of thinking both reflected and transformed in his writing. He almost single handedly guided me through high school, and his death when I was sixteen felt like losing a grandparent. I chose the birdcage as a memorial because its stark, proud simplicity reminds me of everything I love about both his literary style and his philosophy. When set against the backdrop of his death, it conveys a sentiment not unlike the subtitle of his novel Slapstick: “Lonesome no more.”

(52 votes, average: 4.15 out of 5)

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This tattoo also belongs to Kristen and is a tribute to Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

(53 votes, average: 2.32 out of 5)

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This alphabet tattoo was submitted by Margaret, who says:

This tattoo is in my own handwriting. I used to be a librarian and I love the idea of the infinite potential of the alphabet. My tattoo contains the interconnectedness of all literary possibility, yet it was also very useful. I used it when I was putting books away, so I wouldn’t have to keep saying the hard part of the alphabet a billion times a day. Pure idiocy or genius, I haven’t decided which.

(331 votes, average: 4.62 out of 5)

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Theme Week: Tattoo Misspellings

Day 7: It would have been so pretty…

Last night I dreamed a sweet sweet dream
I thought I saw my home sweet home
And oh how grand it all did seem
I made a vow no more to roam
By that dear old village church I strolled
While the bell in the steeple sadly called
I saw my daddy old and grey
I heard my dear old mother say
You’re as welcome as the flowers in May and we love you in the same old way
We’ve been waiting for you day by day, you’re as welcome as the flowers in May
We’ve been waiting for you day by day, you’re as welcome as the flowers in May

- You’re as Welcome as the Flowers in May by Hank Snow

(68 votes, average: 1.69 out of 5)

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Theme Week: Tattoo Misspellings

Day 6: To. Part 2.

Apparently the person who designed this tattoo has a habit of sabotaging his stencils, so if anyone steals his tattoo designs and doesn’t double check them, they end up tattooing things like this on people. Luckily it is easily fixable.

Too Tough to Die is the eighth album by the Ramones, released in 1984.

(35 votes, average: 1.77 out of 5)

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Theme Week: Tattoo Misspellings

Day 5: To.

“Too fast to live, too young to die, bye bye.”

- From the song James Dean by Eagles

(49 votes, average: 1.96 out of 5)

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Theme Week: Tattoo Misspellings

Day 4: Religious error.

Chronieles?  Oops.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

- 2 Chronicles 7:14 (King James version)

(source)

(30 votes, average: 1.13 out of 5)

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Theme Week: Tattoo Misspellings

Day 3: So is your tattoo.

This tattoo reads “imermanence is forever”.  It should read “impermanence”.

(source)

(29 votes, average: 1.52 out of 5)

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