A Free Mind Speaks
By AE
What is living when you’re limited?
Self-minded thoughts deemed confidence as the enemy.
Time go by and elevation seems descending
Locked all emotions in a small room with a very low ceiling.
Digging under my skin feels like a sin,
yet it’s the peace I hide within.
Losing hope is not even a possibility,
Heart keeps yelling to get oxygen in me.
See we are all more alike than you may think,
Open your eyes—stay woke—do not blink.
Missing in action indeed is relaxing but lonely,
Wishing upon a dream is similar to cloning.
Summer jam should be fun and not deadly,
Grew up a beast so vegan I can’t be, simply eat all meat.
You be me and and I’ll never judge,
It must be mature—no fake love or hugs.
Bed bugs bite the unclean every night,
Righteous chews dark negativity inside out.
So on that note I’ll close this door,
However, I promise there’s so much more.
Like rallying after being down by ten with only two minutes left,
Be your best—be blessed!
Living is a journey full of test,
So stay focused and you’ll find rest.
GOD BLESS.
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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.
Hi AE,
I love the flow of your poem. The way it rolls off the tongue being read aloud is beyond satisfying. Also, I feel like the rhythm you built adds to the overall intensity of what you’re saying. Truly beautiful writing!
Dear AE,
I really enjoyed your poem, “A Free Mind Speaks”. I found the way it ends with a hopeful message to be really inspiring. I love the metaphors and figurative language throughout the poem, especially the line “Heart keeps yelling to get oxygen in me”, which personifies the heart and really captures the feeling of desperation. The rhyme scheme is consistent and really adds a sense of rhythm to the poem. Thank you for sharing your work with the world.
I like the rhythm you kept throughout the poem it’s relaxing and encourages me to do better in my own life. keep it up!
i felt like it was very sincere and spoke to my heart and i loved what it talked about
what matters is what you do during your struggle it will define what person you will become in the future, you’re already on the right track. Dont allow the system brought upon you to limit you. Come out of your struggle stronger than last time. To face whatever else may try you in the future.
It is so important for people to stay focused, remain resilient, and to find rest amidst all of life’s challenges. Thank you for the reminder.
AE, I love how your poem dives into the struggles of feeling trapped by self-doubt and limited thoughts. But, I also love how it emphasizes the journey toward freedom and authenticity. This is all about pushing through challenges and finding your own path. This is a great reminder for us to stay true to ourselves and keep pushing forward, no matter what life throws our way.
At times, life can feel suffocating. It can feel as if you’re supposed to be a certain way and act a certain way. The most important thing to realize is that there is no point in faking to be a person to just fit in, you should be the person you are and everything will work out in the end. I feel like that is the message this poem is trying to convey.
I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS. You should see the way my face transformed in reading each line. The symbolism, the diction, the rhyme scheme, the message. 10/10! You are an AMAZING writer. By far one of the greatest poems I’ve ever read (and I’ve read some pretty famous authors). Kudos to you!
Beautiful words. I deeply resonated with the lines “Digging under my skin feels like a sin, yet it’s the peace I hide within.” Often times we find comfort and peace in attacking ourselves, seeing “confidence as the enemy”. The only way I believe to escape this self defeat is to let a “Free Mind Speak”. Thank you for your insight, AE.
Wow! That was my initial first reaction to reading this poem, and this was incredible to read. The emotion, the imagery, the intensity, the EVERYTHING! I was so immersed into your poem that I got lost in it, and I’m glad I did. I was left lingering on every word, and so many lines stuck with me. “ Losing hope is not even a possibility, heart keeps yelling to get oxygen in me.”, “ Grew up a beast so vegan I can’t be, simply eat all meat.”. These two lines stuck with me the most. The entire poem was filled with intense emotion and hope, and the path it took me on was incredible and inspiring. It is such a symbolic and powerful poem, and I’m still in awe with how beautifully written it is! Each line flows into the other, and it’s truly a work of art. As you said it, losing hope is not a possibility, and never lose hope for this passion of yours! You’re very talented, and I’d love to read more!