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The living legend, Patti Smith paid tribute to her late friend Robert Mapplethorpe on his 32nd death anniversary through Instagram. As she always does, Smith recalled Mapplethorpe with a poem totally dedicated to him.
Smith, also a worldwide known author, and poet released a black and white TBT photo of herself standing on a fire escape alongside Mapplethorpe, which became an iconic shot throughout the years. Alongside the photo captured by Gerard Malanga, the ‘Just Kids’ author added:
“This is /the anniversary of the / passing of the Artist / Robert Mapplethorpe, / and these are our feet, / on a fire escape on / 23rd Street in 1971. I / always imagined that / we would spend our / lives stepping upon / close parallel paths, /but he left too soon.”
The symbol of the New York 70’s punk rock movement continued her art piece as follows:
“One day, in the / mystical future, / may ours paths / cross again.”
As widely known, Mapplethorpe was a perfect ingredient for the life of the four-time-Grammy-nominee. According to Smith’s best-selling book ‘Just Kids,’ Mapplethorpe, who worked as a photographer, was both a partner and a friend of the singer.
The duo struggled with many things such as poverty while living together, however, they did not leave each other until March 9, 1989. On the day, the photographer passed away due to complications from HIV/AIDS in his apartment in Boston.
Head this way to view the mentioned Instagram post.
