Inner Strength

By BH

As a product of his environment,
He could not read nor write,
Designed and programmed for destruction,
Thoughts of suicide haunted him at night.

As a product of his environment.
Incarcerated overnight
Afraid to give up, he decided to fight

Six years later a GED, Paralegal diploma and
An Associate’s Degree in Business Management
He found life.

As a product of his environment
He took flight.

8 Comments

  1. Ryan on April 17, 2017 at 10:10 AM

    I love the use of repetition to make a nuanced and strong point.

  2. Eric Coffin-Gould on May 2, 2017 at 12:58 AM

    The last lines are beautiful – simple, but excellently done and powerful.

  3. Andrea Ruggirello on May 13, 2017 at 1:53 PM

    So many years are summarized succinctly in the penultimate stanza. Then the repetition in the last stanza really hits home. I really like the pivot of that last line.

  4. Allyson Booth on June 16, 2017 at 12:51 AM

    I love how this poem starts with that bureaucratic idea of the “product of his environment” but then takes it in another, unexpected direction! Inspirational!

  5. John on March 22, 2020 at 11:55 PM

    I pray that God continue to work it out for you.

  6. Kyla on May 1, 2021 at 11:44 PM

    BH,
    I have come across this poem as part of a college course aimed at community engagement.
    This is such a powerful poem! I think this really speaks to how messed up the justice system in America really is. The school to prison pipeline, mass incarceration minorities, and privatization of prisons are just a few examples of the obstacles making it so.
    This is such a great poem and really shows that you are not the “product of you environment” today. You have made the best version of yourself during a terrible situation. hank you for sharing you story. And please, keep writing!

  7. Anna Carpentiere on October 12, 2022 at 8:58 PM

    This poem is very powerful and self-motivating. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, that’s what makes everyone unique. If you don’t persevere to become your own person then you will not feel as successful as you wish. Overcoming one’s self is the hardest part of mental health because you’re in control of your own thoughts. Fighting for yourself and what is right will make you stand out in the crowd and people around you will start to treat you with more respect. Once you start the process it should come easy, then you will look back on it and realize all you have accomplished such as a GED. You got this and remember the best is yet to come!

  8. Oshane on November 29, 2022 at 10:31 PM

    Hi BH,

    Thank you for sharing your experience with us through your writing. I like that you add emphasis by using repetition of the word ” product of your environment” to illustrate that the environment that we grow up in does have alot to do with how we operate in life. Despite having moments you are not proud of, i like that you fought to be better and is gradually getting to a better place. Congrats on your academic achievements and keep writing, we’d love to hear more from you.

Leave a Comment





This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

The poets featured here are currently incarcerated, and many of them are in federal prisons far from home. Your feedback is a valuable source of motivation and connection to the outside community. Post your comments, feedback, and encouragement in the space below the poem. Messages will be passed on directly to the author. Comments may not appear immediately on the site, as our team processes them to mail to the poets.