Freedom

By CR

I used to always think
That I was going to be in college
But whole time, I’m sitting in a jail cell
With an orange jumper
To me I see that we’re in a pumpkin patch
‘Cuz all you see is orange
I know behind these walls is a thing called freedom
Something people including myself took for granted
But now that I’m not free
I know what it mean to have freedom
I hope one day I can tell people, or mostly youth
That freedom can be taken away in an instant

4 Comments

  1. Shaniqua Marie on March 28, 2014 at 2:12 PM

    Lovely words that provide food for thought.

    Reply
  2. Magali on March 29, 2014 at 8:23 AM

    Dear CR,

    I woke up this morning feeling unhappy, but your poem reminded me to be grateful for what I have–the freedom I take for granted and forget to use. Thank you for using your painful experience to help others with this message. Thank you for reaching out with your mind, your heart, and your pen to help others beyond the walls. You have set the example by exercising freedom inside yourself!

    Reply
  3. eleni on February 11, 2023 at 7:43 PM

    This poem does a great job of covering a very deep topic with a few words. With the very first line, this poem highlights something many people struggle with, and that’s what could’ve been. By talking about how the author always though they would be in college but are incarcerated instead and that they took freedom for granted, they show that they feel regretful about the past and what could’ve been. The thought of how things could be different had we taken different roads in the past is a haunting thought. Often times, it’s easy to look back on our past and be hard on ourselves on the things we wished we had done differently. The truth is, we are all human and we will make human mistakes. Looking back on our past and wishing we had done things differently only shows how we have grown and transformed from the situation. This poem definitely leaves the reader with something heavy to think about.

    Reply
  4. Arik T on November 5, 2024 at 12:07 PM

    As an incarcerated juvenile myself, your poem really hit home.

    Reply

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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.