Ok, so I have two ideas and i'm not sure which to go for:

1) my first idea is to get a tattoo of a very early drawing of the absinthe fairy (i'm talking around the 1872 mark) and then around the outside of this, have some lines from a Rimbaud poem...in french. There are two reasons why i'm not sure about this. One is that I cannot find an early enough drawing of the absinthe fairy...most drawings seem to date from 1892 onwards...the second reason is that I wanted this on my shoulder blade, however I already have a swallow with french writing around the outside of it on my other shoulder and i'm wondering if it might look too cluttered.

2) My second idea was to have a portrait of Verlaine & Rimbaud tattooed on my back...with either some lines from a poem or some lines from one of Rimbaud's letters to Verlaine. I'm unsure about this because you know people's faces on my back is a bit wooo!! look at me! and a big statement...

What are your thoughts???

Also, I have realised all my tattoos seem to tributes to people...how odd.

I like this idea alot. I do think your right about it being too cluttered with it in that spot though. Maybe find a different spot to put it?

Which ever one you still like in 6 months time, if you still like either of them then, then get it done. Thinking about it for 6 months should give you enough time to decide what you really want.