Visiting Hours
By: SW
Anxious for the moment
While sadness eats inside
Looks are deceiving reality
Heart deeply cried
Smiles like a sunshine
Knowing it’s pouring down rain
Behind our face expression
We feel each other
She stays strong by day
And break down by night
I feel pain all day
But stand tall like height
So much runs through the minds
But only little is said
She knows I’m alive
But feel the situation dead
Emotions run through our body
Tears she begin to shed
My eyes began to water
Depressed, I drop my head
Face-to-face with fear
Seeing the person who carried me 9 months cry
Having me so tongue tied my mouth open
But I can’t reply
1 minute left
Clock reaching end of the line
We just witness
For the moment next time
6 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.
Thanks for sharing this poem. I remember visiting my own son, and although I loved seeing him, it was always hard, too. But I am so grateful I had every minute of our time together.
Very powerful and sorrowful at the same time. We can never take back the hurt we cause others, just learn and do better. Excellent, heartfelt writing.
This poem is amazing and extremely touching. I felt tears welling up in my eyes.
Your words were soulful and moving. You poured your heart into those phrases. You have a gift. Truly. I was drawn in by the fact you were obviously speaking of someone you loved. Waiting midway through to reveal the identity of that person made the poem even more impactful. Fabulous choice.
This is such an emotionally raw, real poem that I almost feel that I’m not good enough to comment on it. You convey both your and your mother’s feelings beautifully and intensely, and I actually started feeling anxious while reading the poem, afraid for visiting time to end and wanting to stay just a little longer. It’s wonderful that your mother is supportive and visits you. I know you will make her proud, especially because you’re such a talented writer. You should show this to her someday if you can, to show her how much she means to you.
The image-bursts made me feel how so much goes on in that so little time. I had a thought you might or might not use: You could really slam the person who reads this by stopping it short at “1 minute left”. See if losing the last 3 lines gains you something….
–Grandpa D.