The words are in my mom’s handwriting. I’d always wanted a tattoo consisting of a favorite quotation or phrase, and this fantastic poem kept coming back to me while I was searching for the right one.
I am aware of the many different interpretations of this classic poem by Robert Frost. However, for me, the most resonant interpretation is the most straightforward and is the one that reminds me to be on guard to keep those things that are important in my life foremost in my thoughts. It is a reminder that although there are many temptations out there, my promises to my kids, my coworkers, myself, and others that depend on me, must come before transient distractions that don’t measurably move the ball forward, as they say. That is not to say I can’t have fun; everything in moderation, including moderation, I have heard and co-opted before, but for one that gets distracted and off track easily, this mantra, permanent and visible, always get me focused and back on track . The trees were designed by the artist in consultation with me. It is my first pictorial tattoo but will likely not be my last.
My life has completely changed in the past year and I have been through a lot of really difficult situations. For me, this tattoo was sort of a way to close that chapter of my life and celebrate overcoming every obstacle. I also got it so that I would never forget the things that I went through and to serve as a reminder that I still have a long way to go before I am completely healed from it all.
I got this tattoo in honor of my Mom and Grandmother. It’s my Grandma’s favorite poem that she would often read to me as a young child. She always would stress the last lines and say, “What do you think they mean? They say to me that even though death seems far away, the traveler is very tired.” And that always stuck with me. The compass is paired with the quote on my foot to always send me in the right direction, because if you have a compass you know where you are off to. I have many miles to travel before I’m threw. It was inked by Dylan Young at Black Metal Tattoos, Strongsville OH.
I encountered this poem when I was 17 in my literary class during my junior year of high school. I was going through a really rocky period in my life, and I found a calm in reading Robert Frost’s poetry, especially when I read this poem. It is my favorite. I had originally wanted to get the entire last stanza, but I realized that A) it would be really huge, and B) it wasn’t necessary. Although at first when I walked into the tattoo shop (The Parlour Tattoo, Eugene, OR) and the jolly/cynical desk man and the very attractive tattoo artist (the man who ended up DOING my tattoo) told me how large it would be, I was kind of crushed. In fact, I was really upset. But the more I thought about it, and the more research on my tattoo I did (fonts, sizes, spread, etc.) the more I realized I didn’t need the entire stanza: I just needed “miles to go”.
What the tattoo is for me is a reminder. It is my nine letter stamp that tells me I got through the rough times, and that I can keep going–I have to keep going. And that where ever I get to in life, be it another down-hill slide or something extremely rewarding, not to stay there too long, because I have to move on, and I have to keep moving on until I die.
I am very proud of my tattoo. I loved it before he put the stencil on me.
I got this tattoo so that I’ll always be reminded to never give up. I was going through a pretty rough time and felt like I needed something to ground me, to console me, to keep me sane. I have always been the glue holding my dysfunctional family together and after my older brother attempted to commit suicide, I completely broke down. I didn’t understand why, at such a young age, my family felt the need to let me carry so much responsibility. I was angry and terrified and distraught and hurt. I had thought about ending my own life on many occasions but I knew I could never bring that pain to my family and therefore, even that option was taken away from me. So with this tattoo, I began to heal and eventually its meaning crept onto every aspect of the way I live my life. The woods symbolize an easy way out, a short cut, a cowardly release. My promises will always keep me moving forward and pushing on because there’s many miles, or at least a very very long time, before I ever plan to give up. And If I ever feel myself bowing my head in anything other than respect, I can see my tattoo on the top of my foot, telling me to keep going.
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It’s a collection of letters that Thoreau wrote to Blake. Not sure of
the font. I gave the quote to the artist and said if you have any ideas
go for it. This is what he came up with and I loved it. I just wanted
the punctuation to stay the say because this is how it was written in
the book.
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by Carl Sagan
This is inspired from one of my favorite children’s books by Norton Juster called The Dot and the Line. Not only do I absolutely adore this story of a line hopelessly in love with a dot, but it was also the first book I ever found and bought from the independent bookstore I have been working at for the past 5 years. Back before I actually got paid to be surrounded by books, I would go in The Book Tavern (Augusta, Ga) and pester the owner (and my neighbor). I spotted a first edition of this book and had no prior knowledge of it. I immediately fell in love with not just it’s story but it’s worn and tattered pages. I traded in most of my prized books to get it at a discount because I couldn’t afford it’s rare price tag.
This is my first tattoo, done by Matt at Evolved in Columbus, OH. The quote is from Jack Kerouac; it’s his first on a list of thirty tips for “spontaneous prose” (what he called his own writing style). I chose this quote because I’ve been fascinated by the Beat Generation–their literature, poems, the relationships between different members of the circle, ideas in general–since I first read On the Roadand “Howl” in high school. I write poetry and stories casually (using an old typewriter of course!), and am always jotting down little phrases that come to my head, so I thought this quote was especially appropriate. And no, the “yr” is not a typo, it’s how Kerouac wrote it.
This tattoo is from Jack Kerouac’s 30 rules on writing. It’s his 29th rule, written in his handwriting on my forearm. Took me a while to pull and place all of his unique little characters together (printed out a lot of his handwritten correspondences to get his handwriting as accurate as I wanted), but it’s finally done. I’m so happy with it, and it’ll serve as a reminder to value myself, especially when I’m writing.
Got this done at Harlem Hype Tattoos in New York City, by Sherman Patrice.
“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum“- mock Latin for “don’t let the bastards grind you down”.
From The Handmaid’s Taleby Margaret Atwood.
