Isolation
By AW
Isolation is not good for no one
Isolation is the killer of affection
One against another grows out of
a detachment born of a separation
born from misunderstanding.
Isolation kills our humanity when
imposed as a weapon to punish
to negate, to debase one’s
Humanity.
Like when the rebel yells
toward onward to freedom
and
The slave screams “No” in
the soft and low voice of
one who will no longer be a
good slave to no one
breathing or dead.
So, no to Isolation’s
whip, lashes of mental torture
Emotional Bondage and Mental Chains
Isolation
Is
Death
Free Mumia and all who does not fear
Freedom.
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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.
This poem really captures the essence of your title. I really liked the use of language and painting a picture in the readers head. I also really enjoyed how you tried to use different amounts of words in each poem because it made it more moving for me to read and understand.
Your poetry screams about the gruesomeness of the current situation; it’s palpable. There is so much intensely wrong with both the legal systems that decide who gets what fate and with the prisons themselves and how people are treated within them. I recognize your frustration and I want you to know it’s completely valid and that I feel you deserve better.
This poem is an impactful reminder of how isolation is damaging to the human mind and soul. The mention of Mumia is so powerful and made a great impact on me as the reader. The entire poem is a strong reminder of how isolation, or being separated from others, can hurt people and take away their sense of humanity. It shows how being cut off from others can lead to misunderstandings and make people feel alone. Overall I was very moved.
This poem is intense and heartfelt. It speaks to how isolation can break us down, cutting off connection and humanity. The powerful imagery of rebellion and freedom gives it a strong, emotional punch. The call to “Free Mumia” and stand against oppression adds a sense of urgency that really hits home. Beautifully written!
You’ve managed to turn isolation into something so beautiful and full of emotion.
This poem is a powerful and impassioned critique of isolation as a tool of oppression, linking personal suffering to broader social and political injustices. The raw, rhythmic language—especially in lines like “Isolation is the killer of affection” and “Isolation is death”—amplifies its emotional intensity. It resonates deeply with resistance and defiance, though refining some of the structure could further enhance its clarity and impact.
Your poem powerfully exposes isolation as a tool of oppression, and your fierce, unapologetic voice speaks to the deep human need for connection and freedom. Through your words, you remind us that resisting isolation is an act of reclaiming our dignity and our humanity.
Your words are a powerful act of resistance, turning pain into purpose and isolation into a call for justice. Never doubt that your voice matters—each line you write chips away at the walls meant to silence yo
This poem is very powerful. I hope you are able to find community and combat isolation.
Your poem is a passionate cry against the dehumanizing effects of isolation. The rhythm of the poem, especially in the final lines, really flows for a reader. Lines like “Isolation kills our humanity when imposed as a weapon to punish” are powerful. You draw a cool parallel between historical and present-day oppression, and the metaphor of isolation as a “whip” and “mental chains” is haunting. The imagery of “the slave screams ‘No’ in the soft and low voice” shows strength in quiet defiance. Ending with “Free Mumia and all who does not fear / Freedom” is a call to action, anchoring the poem in both personal resistance and collective struggle. You’ve got a voice that challenges and awakens. Keep writing, keep speaking truth because your words matter, and they carry the power to stir minds and move hearts.
This powerful poem rages against the dehumanizing force of isolation, reclaiming the voice of resistance as a path to collective liberation and unbroken spirit.
Hi AW! I enjoyed your poem it is intense and very moving. I felt the pain and strength in your words about how isolation can destroy a person’s spirit. The way you tied it to both emotional and historical struggles was powerful. I admire your courage to speak out for freedom and justice—your voice matters. I think you have a real future in writing, great job!
That line—”Isolation is the killer of affection”—lands like a truth bomb. It captures how separation isn’t just physical but emotional, cutting people off from empathy, understanding, and love. The structure of the poem mirrors that tension too—fragmented and somewhat breathless.
This poem is raw, powerful, and unflinchingly honest. The way you link isolation to dehumanization, control, and resistance gives the piece a revolutionary spirit. I was especially moved by the lines where the “rebel yells” and the “slave screams ‘No’”—that quiet refusal is such a powerful image of reclaiming agency. The poem doesn’t just speak to personal emotion, it echoes historical and systemic struggles. Ending with “Free Mumia and all who does not fear / Freedom” ties it all together as both a personal and political cry. Deeply impactful work.
I loved the line isolation is killer of affection and isolation is death and the imagery of the slave saying no…. So powerful and visual. Please keep writing. I evokes emotion and has a special spark to it that is dark but relatable and heartfelt.
Thank you for sharing. that was touching. I too was once incarcerated. It was the loneliest time of my life. An experience I am grateful for. Not like I want to do it again grateful. Grateful that It changed my life around and that I never want to go back.
You are a fantastic writer. Your words are powerful. Continue to write! Thats one thing the prison system can not take from you.
I wish you peace.
This poem delivers a powerful and emotionally charged message about the dehumanizing effects of isolation. The writer uses vivid, impactful language and metaphor to evoke the pain and injustice associated with forced separation. Their structure and flow build intensity, especially with the repetition and emphasis on the word “Isolation,” giving the poem a strong rhythmic force. The poem effectively connects personal experience with broader themes of oppression, resistance, and the fight for freedom.
Your description of isolation is wonderfully well written. It truly encapsulates how difficult isolation is and the profound effects it has on the mental health of those experiencing it. The connection you made to the slave who will no longer be a “good slave” is also incredibly powerful showing the true desire we as humans have to be free and how hurtful being isolated is to people. Regardless how “good” in the eyes of other the isolated people are, there is a human desire for freedom and i believe this poem is a PERFECT way to convey that message.
This is both beautiful and powerful! I can feel the meaning behind these words! You truly have a gift!
This poem expresses important concerns about the dangers and harms of isolation but it seems to jump around rather than focusing on its important meaning. I suggest a rewrite — and perhaps it would be helpful to try to have lines with the same number of syllables. Often following this sort of pattern helps us to think of new and more meaningful thoughts. Read aloud as you write. The rhythms and sounds of a poem can help to convey its meaning. THANK YOU for sharing your thoughts. Now shape them into a message to others.
This poem really touches my heart, I felt alone for multiple years of my teen life, it was horrible and lonely so to see poems like this that resonate to me is really touching thank you.
The overall message of this poem is beautiful, and truly makes us reflect on our own selves, as well as what we may fear and the hold isolation can have over us at times.
I also admire your way of describing isolation itself. Seeing it as a killer of affection as well as our humanity was insightful, and hit hard.
So deep and poetic!!
So powerful, and a very unique message!
This poem is a bold and moving outcry against the dehumanizing effects of isolation, shining a light on its power to silence and oppress. Your words reclaim strength through resistance, reminding us that connection and solidarity are acts of survival and revolution. It’s a powerful call to honor freedom—not just for ourselves, but for all who dare to demand their humanity be seen and respected.
This poem really shook me. Comparing isolation to mental chains and emotional bondage gives voice to a kind of suffering that’s often invisible. It’s haunting but necessary.
Your poem is incredibly powerful and thought-provoking. The way you connect isolation to the erosion of humanity and freedom is deeply emotional and true.
I empathize with you. You are being heard.
Dear Author:
Your poem is a deeply touching and a sharp look at how isolation hurts the human spirit. By describing isolation as a “killer of affection” and a weapon that denies and degrades humanity, you show its sneaky power to break connections and weaken our shared humanity. The strong images of “mental torture,” “emotional bondage,” and “mental chains” bring out the heavy burden of forced separation, while the metaphor of “Isolation’s whip” creates a real sense of its cruelty as a tool of oppression. The contrast between the rebel’s shout for freedom and the slave’s soft but firm “No” is especially powerful, showing both the defiance and the deep strength of those who resist being controlled. Your final call to “Free Mumia and all who does not fear Freedom” turns the poem into a strong rallying cry, connecting the personal pain of isolation to a bigger fight for freedom and justice. Thank you for creating such a beautifully layered and emotionally moving piece that urges us to reject isolation’s chains and embrace our shared humanity.
I find that this poem expresses a meaningful message about unity, as well as the inner strength and freedom we all possess. It encourages reflection on how we can sometimes become disconnected from one another, leading to a decline in empathy and understanding. By highlighting the idea that isolation can feel like death, the poem inspires us to recognize the importance of maintaining strong connections, as doing so not only strengthens our individual spirits but also enhances the resilience of our society as a whole.
This poetry is intensely poignant, urgent, and unvarnished. It effectively illustrates how separation dehumanizes and punishes by repeatedly using “Isolation” as a condition and a weapon. Particularly remarkable are the parallels between rebellion and slavery, which give voice to both silent and vocal acts of resistance. One recommendation would be to think about making the structure a little tighter for clarity, particularly when moving from personal to political topics. This could increase the impact of the message even further. The final call to action is audacious and provocative, and the passion and conviction are evident.
This poem has incredible word choice and imagery. The symbolic tie between emotional bondage and mental chains is a great touch. Lots of symbolism and figurative language create a beautiful image for the reader.
Hi there,
Your poem was so special with your unique voice shining through. It was very deep and made me really consider the systems both present and historically that our country has had – from a new perspective of isolation. The diction and perspective you utilized were so powerful in conveying the overall message – making the poem both insightful and engaging. I also like the story that is shaped throughout the poem, as you reveal more silvers of your thinking, I was more and more invested in learning more about what you had to say.
This poem powerfully conveys the emotional and psychological toll of isolation, portraying it as both a personal torment and a tool of systemic oppression. Through vivid imagery and repetition, the poet evokes a strong sense of resistance and urgency. The reference to “Free Mumia” grounds the poem in a broader struggle for justice, giving it a compelling political edge that deepens its impact. Great job!