Dead
By RM
I have never been on this road before
Upon which I cannot advance anymore
There are no roads to the right of me
There are no roads to the left of me
Only
Massive mountainous formation of concrete
200 feet on both sides of me
Furthermore…
When I look behind me
There is no road behind me, “no more”
I am at a complete stop…. Boxed!
With no foreseeable options but to
Stays & wait & pray & have faith
That this is not my end
Absolutely imprisoned in
This final road I chose, not knowing
It would lead to a dead end.
33 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.
RM — This is a powerful poem — a very careful description of your awful situation and then movement toward a bit of hope. I think that writing can be a way of getting rid of awful feelings and I hope you keep writing and sharing your thoughtful words!
RM- thank you for sharing your words with me. Your use of imagery is powerful and I for a moment I felt right next to you in that box. Reading this, I see the box as three dimensional and you sitting inside, however if you unfold the box then there are “four” roads that unfold. That is what is waiting for you, and I am excited for you to choose that road forwards when that time comes. Keep using your words to share and express.
Thank you for sharing your words. They are empowering where there are always roads ahead of us and we have the choice to decide. Although we might not know where it will lead or if there will be a dead end. With faith hopefully it will be the right choice in the end.
This is a beautifully written poem and the incredible use of imagery really made me feel as if I was there with you. I definitely believe this is not the final road for you and that there is another road that unfolds behind those walls. Just keep praying and hoping for that road to unveil itself and I know you will do incredible things down that new path. Keep writing these amazing poems!
I really enjoyed this poem. Your use of descriptive imagery was really powerful and helped me to picture where the narrator is. I also thoroughly enjoyed the theme and thought it could be open for interpretation by the reader. Overall, great work! Keep sharing your work!
Hi! The poem you’ve shared beautifully captures a sense of being trapped and the feeling of being boxed in by life’s circumstances. The imagery of massive mountainous concrete formations on either side, along with the realization that there are no roads to the right or left, effectively conveys the sense of being at a complete standstill with no clear path forward. This feeling of entrapment and isolation is powerfully depicted through the vivid description of the road leading to a dead end.
The poem evokes a strong emotional response, reflecting the struggle of feeling confined and devoid of options. The use of repetition, such as “no more” and “boxed,” accentuates the feeling of finality and helplessness in facing this unexpected dead end.
Through the image of a road that ends in a dead end, the poem masterfully conveys the sense of being imprisoned and powerless. Massive concrete formations that seem to be looming on all sides evoke a sensation of confinement and claustrophobia, emphasizing the speaker’s anguish at being at a halt. The fact that there are no other options highlights the overpowering feeling of being trapped with no obvious way out. The references to waiting, praying, and having faith show a tenacity in the face of hardship, and despite the depressing tone, there is a glimmer of optimism. Ultimately, themes of constraint, uncertainty, and the effort to move forward in the face of unforeseen hurdles are all sensitively explored in this poem.
Your poetry does a great job of capturing the sense of being stuck on a road with no obvious way out. One feels confined and alone when they see concrete mountains rising on all sides. The sense of being at a dead end and unable to get out is heightened when you realize there’s no path ahead of you. But even in the middle of this hopelessness, a ray of hope can be seen through the shadows. Your perseverance and will to face this obstacle are evident in your decision to stay, wait, pray, and have faith. There’s a notion that this isn’t the end of your trip, despite the fact that you can feel trapped by the decisions that brought you here.
Hi RM- Your poem vividly captures the feeling of being trapped in a seemingly hopeless situation, surrounded by imposing obstacles and with no apparent way out. The repetition of phrases like “no roads” and “massive mountainous formation of concrete” emphasizes the sense of confinement and isolation. The use of imagery paints a stark picture of being boxed in, both physically and metaphorically. Overall, it effectively conveys a sense of despair and uncertainty, while also hinting at the resilience and hope that can persist even in the face of such challenges.
RM,
This poem is powerful. I actually imagined being on a road and seeing everything, then realizing the box is a room. The imagery in this is amazing and you can feel tons of emotion coming out of this. Never stop writing.
Hey man this is has so much imagination and work put into this I felt like I was right there sitting south you reading this poem keep up the good work!!!
Very illustrative, makes me feel like I am in your position.
Your ability to describe your area was amazing. I could really picture where you were, and I know this is not the end of the as long as you keep on going you will get to where you want to be.
I got a shiver from this beautifully written poem. I appreciate you sharing this poem, RM. The feeling of isolation and also of possibility is strong here.
I appreciate the perspective you’re showing your readers as to how it feels to be incarcerated. How you describe it here and the road you’re leading the reader down leads us to associate it with death. From your poem, it feels like a state of limbo, too, in that it’s not your final stop, but there’s also nowhere to go while you wait in between to be judged one way or another. Keep expressing yourself through the strength of your words. Your use of metaphor and imagery to convey your feelings is impressive. Well done!
Hi RM,
Thank you for sharing your raw emotions about incarceration. I really liked your line, “With no foreseeable options but to Stays & wait & pray & have faith That this is not my end”. Your message is powerful and hopeful. Your words communicate to so many people the message that you will not be silenced and you will keep rising to the occasion. This poem is beautiful and it inspired me and will keep inspiring those that read it. This inspired me to put myself in your shoes and truly see and feel your emotions. It opened my eyes to what you are going through. It brings awareness to the prison system and a first-person point of view. I learned that prison isn’t just a place, it can feel like you are boxed in with no where to turn.
-MH
This is a beautiful poem – you captured your emotions very well. The imagery and details helped me feel connected to the message, and the short pace of the poem helped convey the panicked, claustrophobic feeling of your words. The construction of this poem helps to connect the reader with the internal struggle you are feeling. The imagery of the box is very powerful, and helps the reader visualize your situation.
This is a really powerful poem about incarceration. Your use of meaningful breaks in your lines of poetry cause moments of hesitation from the reader and also displays a clear organization of your thought process. Also, your use of imagery brings a new meaning to the poem, because it displays your feelings of being trapped in a place with no way to progress. You definitely have more in your life ahead of you. This is a great poem!
RM- Your poem really touched me with the sense of hope struggling to stay alive in the midst of significant adversity. Hope is a powerful thing and even though you didn’t use that word, it’s the thing coming through your words most powerfully for me. Your words are creating a road in front of you, keep using them.
This poem is so powerful! I liked how the lines about waiting and praying show the struggle of wanting to find a way forward when you feel like you have no options. Overall, this poem captures the frustration and uncertainty of making choices that lead you to a place you didn’t expect.
I love a soft and very gentle poem. This writing has a very hardening texture with a peaceful tone. It’s not often you come across a piece such as this one. This poem is sweet as it characterizes things that are known to be hard or rough. Great job author!
This is a very powerful poem. I know it can be tough sometimes and it might feel like its a dead end but like you said in your poem do your best to stay and wait and pray and have faith and trust. Have a great day!
The intimidating imagery and ominous undertones helped me experience your perspective!
This poem was amazing to read. I really felt like I was there trapped with all of the imagery and careful description that you used. Your use of one word lines also added to the suspense and story-telling element of this poem. I was hooked from beginning to end.
Your poem captures the feeling of being trapped at a dead end with no way forward. The imagery of being boxed in and the need for faith and hope, even in uncertainty, is powerful and relatable. I think you did a great job with this poem and I really enjoyed reading it!
Your poem beautifully captures the feeling of being stuck, with no way forward or back. The way you express the uncertainty and frustration of being at a dead end is so relatable. It’s a powerful reminder that even in moments when we feel trapped, faith and hope can lead us to new paths. Thank you for sharing such an honest reflection on struggle and perseverance.
This poem really captures the feeling of being stuck and trapped, like you’ve hit a dead end with no way forward or back. The imagery of being boxed in by concrete mountains on all sides makes it feel so isolating, yet the hope of faith and prayer still shines through. That line, “I am at a complete stop… boxed!” really hits hard—it’s like being caught in a moment where you don’t know what to do next, but there’s still that small spark of hope. It’s a powerful reminder that even when it feels like there’s no way out, faith and patience can keep us going. Keep writing, your words speak to that feeling of struggle but also resilience.
Your imagery is vivid and moving. So inspiring, I really enjoyed reading your poem! Great job! Thank you for sharing!
Dear RM, I can find your poem very relative in the ways that matter. We all have a journey, we all have a purpose to pursue and catalyze off of what we can especially towards survival. Nice one RM.
Your poetry does such a good job at sharing how it feels to be trapped on a road with no clear escape. It captures the isolation that comes with towering concrete mountains all around. The sense of being at a dead end, with no way forward shares the feeling of hopelessness. Plus, your determination and resolve to confront this challenge shine through in your choice to stay. I really enjoyed reading this poem.
This is a very compelling and telling poem. the title “dead” made me think that the poem would be about maybe a death of the loved one that you cared for or maybe something else related to death. what I read was the feeling of being so entrapped that you might as well be dead. the feeling of having nowhere to go and no other option except the inevitable, death. Very powerful and intriguing writing RM, amazing work keep it up!
Reading your poem I felt just like any other open road, it is unsure of where you will end up or what path you will end up taking. Just because you are surrounded by these walls and what may feel like a dead end, this is not. You will take a road that will open up something you weren’t expecting at all. Sometimes it does feel like the end of the road is there and that all options have been explored but with time, there will be a road you’ll travel that you didn’t expect. Keep writing you did an amazing job on this poem!
great perspective and Im sorry to hear this… great visuals.