A tattoo is a true poetic creation, and is always more than meets the eye. As a tattoo is grounded on living skin, so its essence emotes a poignancy unique to the mortal human condition.

My body is a journal in a way. It's like what sailors used to do, where every tattoo meant something, a specific time in your life when you make a mark on yourself, whether you do it yourself with a knife or with a professional tattoo artist.

The human body is the best picture of the human soul.

Physical concepts are free creations of the human mind, and are not, however it may seem, uniquely determined by the external world.

I gave it my body and mind, but I have kept my soul.

That's what gives me the most confidence about its return. The cultural provenance of New Orleans stands out in a way that isn't true of other parts of the South. Having this identity that people care about could be critical, especially since there are events where the outside world looks in.