My Reality
By AH
I am a shallow shell
The crab that was once inside of me has died
Murdered in cold blood
Simply misled
I didn’t fully understand the repercussions to my decisions
My mind was too wrapped around things that were senseless
Now as a young man I know what it feels like
To be told the beginning
Is really the end of my life
To be confined to a coffin
Body filled with invisible scars
The youth needs to learn that this is the type of sh*t that
Happens when u are unaware of who u are
Cuz, the streets never gave me sh*t but a gift of disillusion
Which left me with a cold heart, no freedom, and mental bruises
Maybe it’s safe to say
That the man I am today
Is still being haunted
By the man I was yesterday
And I am afraid
Because my darkest dreams may become my reality
God please remove these demons from around me
I don’t want to die
Young, confused, and mad
I don’t want to be counted amongst the broken men
My sisters
This is my reality
So vivid, hurtful And rife
It’s like someone’s hands are over my eyes
Because I’m struggling to see the light
Young brothers, this is my reality
Controlled movement, toilets, and doors
My Reality is real,
I don’t know about yours
4 Comments
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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.
Hello AH,
Thanks for your very strong poem. I love the beginning metaphor, and the raw honesty of your ideas. I’m sorry for the hard lessons and hope that writing and other lifelines may draw you upward into better places.
Regards,
Emily S.
Dear AH,
I am blown away by the imagery in your poem. The coffin and the figurative hands over your eyes were both very powerful.
You really capture the feelings of fear and frustration that come from trying to leave pieces of your past self behind. You did a really effective job of making that theme emerge in your specific story to speak to its universal truth.
Please keep writing. I would love to read more.
Your fan,
Rachael
The author is expressing a feeling where they feel like they have overcame something in their life where it has help them find little pieces of themselves but is emotionally disappointed on his actions.
Dear AH,
Thank you for sharing such a deep and personal poem. Your voice and frustrations come through so vividly in your imagery. I was especially stopped in my tracks after reading “I don’t want to be counted amongst the broken men.” It is true that there are times in our lives when we are not living “our” lives but the life we “think” we want to be living. This, as you so clearly describe, is not a way to live a life. I hope you can find some comfort in the awareness of yourself that you now hold. No longer are you guessing about who or how you should be. Looking forward to reading more. Keep writing!!
Sincerely,
Adam