Waiting
By DA
I’m waiting for a decision from the judge,
which could come any day,
I feel like it’s been longer than 31 and a half years,
More like forever and a day.
But my lawyer tells me my time is near,
But I wonder if she’s being real or just faking?
I wish my time would come on then,
Because damn, I’m tired of waiting.
It seems I’ve been waiting all my life,
Let’s get these wheels in motion,
It’s like waiting for a ship to sail,
Even though it’s not in the ocean.
But I can tell my time is coming,
I can feel it in my bones,
I just got to wait a little longer,
Because by patiently waiting I’ll make it home.
So I wait.
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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.
I enjoy this and the Motion it portrays.
I truly feel as though you conveyed this emotion so beautifully. It truly made me feel for you. Great poem!
This is a beautiful piece. You really express the struggles and the limbo-like experience of waiting for trial. I hold nothing but hope for you.
Your poem captures the ache and persistence of waiting, especially for something as life-defining as a judge’s decision. It feels as though each line conveys that heavy yet hopeful push-and-pull between doubt and the conviction that an answer is coming. The repetition of time as something painfully slow yet almost within reach is powerful—you’ve managed to show how waiting itself becomes a weight that presses on your spirit, but also, in the end, a way to reclaim hope. It’s like you’re suspended between despair and resilience, holding on to every sign that your time is coming, that relief will arrive if you can endure just a little longer.
There’s also something deeply universal here: we all know what it’s like to wait for the unknown and to question whether those we trust are giving us hope or just delaying the inevitable. But the resolve you show—to stay patient, to keep holding on—turns the act of waiting into something more active, more purposeful, and even courageous. Thank you for sharing this—it’s a reminder of how waiting, for all its hardships, can become its own journey, one that sometimes leads us to a new sense of strength and closeness to home.
Thank you for sharing, I hope the time passes you by quickly.
I enjoyed reading this poem, it shows your desire to finally be released into the free world. Through this dreadful time period of patiently waiting you don’t feel that this is real and your aware that by waiting you’ll make it out and back home.
That’s a really heartfelt piece. Waiting can be so tough, especially when so much is on the line. Your words capture the frustration and hope perfectly. Hang in there; it sounds like you’re close to getting the resolution you need.
such a wonderful write. I appreciate the gentle rhyme and imagery taken up by the poem itself.
To a much lesser degree I’m sure, I believe I do still understand this feeling. The sense of waiting for something to come, wanting it to arrive whether it helps or hurts me just so I can start working past it.
I like the honesty you show in this poem. It clearly comes from a meaningful experience in your life and it makes it very impactive.
This is a very impactful poem. The way you articulate your thoughts makes the reader feel your sense of longing. The last line reinforces how long you have had to wait, along with the title of the poem. You are great at writing, keep going!
Your poem beautifully captures the tension between hope and frustration. The imagery of waiting for a ship to sail is powerful and relatable. I can feel the strength and determination in your words.
Hello DA, I pray you will be released soon!
Your poem beautifully captures the frustration and hope that comes with waiting. The emotion is so real, and I love how you convey both the exhaustion and the sense that something good is on the horizon. Your patience, even through the struggle, is inspiring. I hope the wait is worth it and brings you the peace you’re seeking. Great job!
I really enjoyed reading your poem. Your last stanza really got to me. I read it almost like you’ve been running a race for so ling, and you are almost to the finish line. You used your words beautifully and I can see that you really do have a talent.
DA, some days feel like forever. Some minutes feel like weeks. You and I don’t know each other, but what I do know, is you are someone who loves. It can be hard to love during tough times. It can be hard to think you are loved by others. Keep your head up and keep loving. Keep dreaming. Keep praying. Keep writing. I wish you the best.
That’s beautifully written, and it really captures the weight of anticipation and hope. Hang in there—sounds like you’re holding onto a strong sense of perseverance, and that’ll carry you through.
Thank you for sharing this heartfelt and honest poem. Your words paint a vivid picture of patience, hope, and resilience. It’s not easy to keep waiting, especially when the stakes are so high, but your determination and belief in better days ahead are inspiring. I admire how you’ve expressed the struggle of time passing—it’s something many people can relate to, in their own ways. You’re not alone in this journey. Remember, every step forward, no matter how small, brings you closer to that brighter day. Stay strong, and know there are people rooting for you and your voice. Your words have power—they reach beyond walls, connecting you to a wider community that hears you and cares.
Your poem really hit me. I can feel the weight of what you’re going through in your words, and it’s clear how much strength it takes to keep holding on. I just wanted to say that your writing makes an impact—it’s raw, honest, and powerful. Keep sharing your story because it’s worth hearing, and I hope you find moments of peace even in the waiting.
Your poem does a great job of showing the struggle and emotions of waiting, especially in such an important moment. The way you repeat “waiting” makes the feeling of time dragging very real and relatable.
I liked the line, “It’s like waiting for a ship to sail, / Even though it’s not in the ocean.” It paints a clear picture of feeling stuck and wanting to move forward but unable to.
The last stanza is hopeful, especially “By patiently waiting I’ll make it home.” It shows your strength and belief in better days ahead. Thank you for sharing such a heartfelt piece—seeing hope shine through is inspiring.
I loved this poem. It made me feel the constraints of serving time, it relayed the frustration of not knowing if you’re being told the truth and the longing of recognition that you’ve served your time and are ready. You show you have the gentleness of being hopeful, and you have the desire and drive to manifest your freedom. The last line about patience is so beautiful and wise it touched me deeply. You gave me a charge and the positivity to get through my own difficult times I’m experiencing. Keep writing you’re wonderful at it.
Hello! I really like the theme of waiting. I think it was interesting how you brought up the idea that you aren’t exactly sure how long you are waiting for– it could be any day. This adds an interesting dynamic to the concept of waiting and kept me engaged as a reader. Keep up the great work!
I can really feel this person’s desire to be free and how much emotion they have built up about their time incarcerated. They really emphasize the virtue of patience and how this waiting game will be successful in the end.
This poem is so eye opening and it tugs at my heart. 31 and a half years is a long time. Your comparison to a ship and the ocean is especially thoughtful. I love your closing about making it home and the way you repeated “wait” throughout the whole poem. Great job!!
Thank you for sharing! This poem captures the weight of waiting, stretching time into what feels like forever. Lines like “waiting for a ship to sail, / Even though it’s not in the ocean” express the frustration of feeling stuck yet longing for progress. Despite the weariness, there’s a quiet strength in believing “my time is coming.” The closing, “So I wait,” is simple yet powerful, highlighting patience and resilience. Your words speak to anyone caught between hope and uncertainty. I hope the decision brings you the peace and freedom you’re waiting for.
To DA, remain strong and hopeful even when times are uncertain. I feel you’ve expressed a great amount of patience in this poem. You are outstanding. Goodluck to you.
Hello! I enjoyed reading your poem and it was very good. I liked how you talked about waiting, how it can be tiring to wait but we must do it. I also like how you close the poem by showing an event that you are waiting for! Overall this was some amazing work and I hope you keep it up!
God bless you. You are deeply loved and valued by God, our Father.
Very powerful and beautifully written. The pain and hope in DA’s words are very apparent and moving.
I loved the imagery – the ship not in the ocean conveys the feelings of impatience and desire, despite things being out of the speaker’s hands.
The final line is really powerful, especially after the hopefulness of the last stanza.
I’m holding out hope for you.
Hi Da,
I just read your poem and I just wanted to say you have had a fair share of waiting! I know what it’s like when something is so close that feeling is in your bones and you start to get antsy. I do like your comparison about a ship waiting to set sail because just like any other thing about waiting in life, it represents how slow things can move sometimes and how un fair it can be. Just know that the waiting will be worth it. Your poem was smooth, quick, and catchy. I did notice that the patterns you were following which clicked with me. Good job on the writing and keep it up!
Thank you,
Anthony
Your poem captures the weight of waiting—each line filled with anticipation, doubt, and the quiet endurance that comes with it. The mix of frustration and hope makes it deeply relatable, and that last line leaves a powerful impression of resilience.
This poem captures the frustration and hope of waiting for a life-changing decision. The emotions feel real—tired but determined. The imagery of time passing and waiting for a ship that’s not in the ocean makes the feeling even stronger. In the end, patience and hope keep the poet going.
Thank you for this wonderful poem. Waiting can be so difficult especially when your anxious about the news. Your metaphors of time perfect depict how sometimes time can be so slow. When we are eagerly waiting for news time can go by so slow! Thank you for sharing!
This poem captures the raw frustration and exhaustion of waiting, yet it holds onto hope with quiet resilience. The closing lines tie it all together beautifully, reinforcing the strength found in patience.
I think this poem talks about a prisoner getting closer to its release date. They are looking for a new beginning, and is patiently waiting for it to come. This provides a new perspective on how prisoners think and what their anticipation looks like by giving a positive outlook on life.
In the poem Waiting, the anxiety caused by uncertainty for what could happen in the future is neatly captured, thereby making the reader feel the enormous burden and weight of time passing regardless of your emotions. It really emphasized the reality that time waits for no one, and when someone cowers in fear about what could happen, the reality is already happening. The imagery—waiting for a ship that’s not even in the ocean—was a great way to express that emotion of feeling not in control, but despite it all, there’s a quiet voice of strength in the belief that freedom is coming.
This poem captures the emotional toll of waiting for a life-changing decision. The speaker expresses a deep sense of impatience and exhaustion, with time feeling endless. The use of metaphors, like comparing the wait to waiting for a ship that’s not in the ocean, conveys the frustration and uncertainty of the situation. Yet, there’s a sense of hope and determination in the line “I can feel it in my bones,” suggesting that despite the long wait, the speaker believes their time is coming. It’s a poignant reflection on perseverance and the emotional complexity of waiting for justice.
This poem was beautiful and really communicates the longing of wanting to leave, yet all you can do is hope and wait. The lines “It’s like waiting for a ship to sail,/Even though it’s not in the ocean.” really stuck out to me because it communicate the frustration of something being very important to you, yet it isn’t being prioritized by others. The period at the end of the last line “So I wait.” communicated the frustration of the length of having to wait since it has been 31 and a half years. I really enjoyed reading this poem and thank you for sharing.
Very interesting and thought provoking. If this is honest, I wish you the best.
Butterflies are one of the neatest animals on earth in my opinion. They are truly amazing creatures. They have to have a lot of resilience for sure, just to survive. I feel like everybody relates to them, and this poem at least a little bit throughout their life.
This poem captures the weight and exhaustion of waiting so powerfully. The emotions of hope, doubt, and patience come through so clearly, and the imagery — like waiting for a ship to sail that’s not even in the ocean — makes that feeling of endless anticipation so vivid. The closing lines, with that quiet strength and determination to make it home, leave such a lasting impact. It’s a heartfelt and beautifully written piece!