For the Birds…
By DC
They say prison is for the birds you know,
But I think those who say it just don’t understand…
Because the other day I was in my window,
When I just happen to see one land…
And I saw the look in its eyes, when it observed the scene,
And when it noticed where it was at…
It noticed the place was over crowded with people,
Some White, some Mexican, Some Black …
It saw how they all was separated in sections,
It guess it was because of their color…
It wonder, shouldn’t they be standing against the system,
But they chose to stand against each other…
It saw the food the people ate was at the bottom of the barrel,
To the point, it rather keep eating worms…
It never seen a place so filthy,
And they say it’s the one with germs…
It watched all the looks on the people’s faces,
Some showing depression, anger, and it can understand,
Because a place like this got to be built only to break the strongest man…
But they say prison is for the birds you know,
Well, I find it hard to say…
Because if prison is built for the birds like they thought,
Then why can it fly away?
8 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.
Good one! Great idea of the bird’s eye view of prison.
Thank you for sharing your poem, DC. I love the creativity and imagery you brought in by having us look at the prison from the bird’s perspective (and the bird from the speaker’s perspective). Keep up the good writing!
Rachael
Hi DC,
You hit the nail on the head with this line: “shouldn’t they be standing against the system,
But they chose to stand against each other…” That is an important and inspiring message to share, especially at this moment in history. Many of us are out here wishing you peace and trying to change the system. Hang in there and keep writing!
excellent! graphic and raw… in a way you make all of us that bird that stops by the window and looks in at where you live but then turns and flies away. It’s hard to look in that window and not turn away. But if us Birds have what it takes to create a place like prison and if we have the courage to send young people to that prison then we should have the courage to look in that window and see what we’ve done. You humbled Me by this. Thank you.
The rhyming and the bird’s eye point of view was a very good idea. This poem really made me think about life in prison. Thank you for sharing this poem. You have much creativity. I loved this poem
– Maya E.
Your poem touches my heart, it is beautiful. You are inspiring me, and so many others.
Wonderful stuff here. I like the format, and how you begin and end the poem with the line about prison being for the birds. My favorite part is where you say people should be standing against the system but instead chose to stand against each other. True words, and they apply everywhere.
This poem is so unique! I think the idea of writing a poem from the point of view of a bird is so creative. This unique perspective coupled with the strong message it is portraying about prisons is so powerful. The line, “Shouldn’t they be standing against the system, but they chose to stand against each other…” is very powerful and moving. This poem really highlights the hardships and issues with the system, from one of the most interesting and creative perspectives. This was truly such a great poem, one which I’ll definitely be sharing with friends and family! Keep up the great work!