How do you wish to encounter your soulmate one day? Will it be by bumping into them in public and catching each other’s gaze? Will they grab you by the hand and pull you out of a dire situation? Is it a goal of yours to find someone who shares the same burning passions as you, so that you both inspire one another in your craft? All these different wishes and dreams are fun to wonder about; however, for Patti Smith, these were not wishes. They were her reality with Robert Mapplethorpe.
In her 2010 memoir “Just Kids,” Smith talks about her relationship with Mapplethorpe, a fellow starving artist in New York City. Yet, starving is an oversimplification of his character, because Mapplethorpe would prove to be so much more to both the evolving art scene in New York City and to Smith. Smith would also become a great influence and support to Mapplethorpe during his artistic pursuits and exploration of sexuality. Published twenty years after Smith promised Mapplethorpe she’d tell their story in 1989 – the same year he died due to complications from AIDS — “Just Kids” paints a picture of their complicated, intimate, and persevering love.
The book starts by illustrating Smith’s early life, long before she first met Mapplethorpe. Born in Chicago, Smith grew up with a passion for reading and writing. Her family eventually moved to Philadelphia before later settling in New Jersey. After living there for most of her life, Smith decided to take a risk and leave home. Fueled by her passions and a fear of how her life would look if she stayed in New Jersey, she packed a bag of clothes and bought a one-way bus ticket. Her destination: Brooklyn, New York. She left with a shaky plan on how to support herself once she got there, but as everyone knows, plans do not always work out; but they sometimes lead to unexpected encounters. This is how Patti Smith met Robert Mapplethorpe.
Together, they would struggle to make a living, but both would have each other. It’s a rough journey, but filled with encounters at places that would change their careers. Mapplethorpe would go on to become known for his daring photography. On the other hand, Smith would become a music legend, known for her fusion of rock and lyrical poetry, which would pave the way for New York punk music.
“Just Kids” was one of the books I had been meaning to read for a while, but not because I knew who Smith or Mapplethorpe were. Rather, it was a book that had been sitting on my bookshelf back at home, its pages yellowing and edges chipping. I also wanted to bring a few books to college. “Just Kids” was perfect because the story was set on the East Coast. The other books I brought were either ones I never read or had read in the past. Both act as shelf decorations. However, I am glad I got through “Just Kids,” even though it took me a long time. Maybe a part of me wanted to savor the story.
There were a lot of moments where I found myself sitting in pockets of Smith’s world where the characters felt like close friends. When they celebrated, I celebrated, and when they were sad, I was sad. Combined with the foreword, where Smith revealed Mapplethorpe’s passing, it builds up emotion with their memories. It ushers readers into the past to explore their relationship. When the story reaches the end and looks back into the present, it solidifies the aching reality that Mapplethorpe is gone.
Looking back, the title of the book, “Just Kids,” fits the story it tells. Smith takes this phrase from an encounter with an old couple in the book. They helped take a photo of Mapplethorpe and Smith together. To the old couple, they were “just kids” — full of drive, youth, and an unshakeable ability to take risks. For Patti Smith, the phrase describes looking back on her time with Mapplethorpe. “Just Kids” reads like a prophecy — everyone is bound to experience it.
To read Smith’s memoir for the first time is an experience that would make many jealous, myself included. Once you finish, I’d recommend engaging with some of her other work. There, you’ll find the songs and poems she dedicated to Robert Mapplethorpe: her lover, confidant, and soulmate even after death.
