From State to State
By SHA
Since a teenager I moved from state to state
Experiencing different lifestyles and cultures I never knew existed
Even though I was incarcerated it was a journey
That made me grow and become wiser than I was before
Never knowing who you will meet or who you will befriend wherever you land
For me it was a journey of life-altering changes
And ending my purpose in life with faith and commitment to what I’ve become today
The younger me was stuck in one place under one condition
Thinking it wouldn’t change just living for the moment
So, to say the least, this journey has not been bitter sweet
But one to continue to grow with and see what lies ahead
Peace
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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.
SHA,
Your poem is awesome and I love how you could still experience life in different places despite your circumstances. Continue to grow and keep writing! -Pat
Hi SHA,
I really enjoyed the positive tone of this poem. Despite the challenges of being incarcerated, you were able to find the pros of moving from state to state; experiencing different cultures and unique people. In my experience, I’ve met some of the most interesting people in the places I least wanted to go. I hope that your journey in the future is filled with more experiences you can learn from and more growth. This inspires me to look to the future with curiosity, but not fear. Thanks for sharing!
To SHA,
It’s encouraging to see how you can turn a hard situation into a situation where you can grow in a positive way. I’m glad you’ve found your purpose and I wish you the best of luck of future endeavors. This is a great poem and you’re writing is amazing!
Hey SHA,
Thank you for sharing this powerful writing. I agree that life is going to continue and we are always going to grow as a person. I loved the message that you portrayed.
Sha, I’m glad that you are able to be positive despite your situation. Being able to grow in a place that wants to put you down shows your resilience. I hope that you continue to grow and make new friends. I wish that during your time incarcerated that you are granted access to opportunities that enable you to pursue different hobbies, continue your education, and pursue your dreams!
SHA,
Thank you for taking the time to share with us. I agree that our circumstances and the people we meet along the way shape who we are. We all make mistakes, and we all have pain, but it is refining. Continue to appreciate the path you walk, both good and bad.
Keep writing!
You demonstrate an incredible amount of maturity to be able to see your experiences this way. You write about being incarcerated and constantly moving, however see the best in the situation because you get to meet new people and have new experiences. This poem makes me think about the “bad” experiences in my past and the opportunities they lead me to. Your commitment to life is unwavering; thank you for sharing. 2
This is such a positive and uplifting poem! You did such a good job telling your story and giving it a positive turn on it. You definitely look on the positive side of things and that is sometimes always better to do. Keep up the good work and do not stop writing!!
SHA,
Your positive mindset is admirable because a lot of people who go through the same situation see moving place to place as a negative aspect. I like the line “The younger me was stuck in one place under one condition.” This line made me think that moving was a saving grace for you since you were feeling so stuck. Your growth is only at the beginning and you have so much ahead of you. Keep that positive mindset with you through all of life. Thank you for this piece.
CA
How wonderful is it that you are able to continue to grow and experience new things. I really enjoyed this poem and how uplifting it is! Amazing poem and I hope you continue writing!
I really liked the last few lines of your poem which wraps your poem really well. It’s super positive outlook on life and how you experienced many changes!!
This poem is interesting to read because I am nineteen and have lived in the same house since I was born. I find it interesting and want to know what it’s like to experience different lifestyles and cultures. There are pros and cons to always moving, but it can be hard for many people. Living in the moment is the best way to live in my opinion because you’re not thinking about the past or the future, you’re focused on the now. You got this and remember the best is yet to come!
Hi there!
I really enjoyed reading this poem because it reminded me that even when circumstances can be extremely tough, it’s so important and it’s possible to keep a positive mindset. As someone who has dealt with anxiety all my life, I tend to stay in a mindset where I always think about things in the worst light and I always expect the worst things to happen in every situation. I forget sometimes the reality of how things really are, and this poem helped me to reflect on that. Sometimes things are not really as bad as they seem, and even when things are really bad, it’s the mentality that you have that matters. Things won’t get better if you can’t recognize that not everything is going to cause the world to end. That’s something I’ve had to remember and a motto that I’ve started to say is “Everything happens for a reason.” This phrase is inspiring to me and it reminds me to never regret anything that has happened in my life, whether it has caused me to feel negative emotions. Everything that has happened whether good or bad has led me to the moment I’m in now, it has all made me the person I am today, and I’m extremely grateful for that. I hope that you continue to stay positive, and that you continue to spread that positivity. Thank you for sharing!