On the Same Page
By JA
When I read, I’m alive not dead
The words tell me so much I’ve read
On the page, I’ve met the other travelers
On the page, I’ve been to the favelas
On the page, I’ve felt heartbreak, elation, scorn
I read to learn, move on
When I read, I feel alive, not dread
When I read I know where to head
When I meet you on the page, I smile, nod head in acknowledgement
When I write I use plenty emotion
My words express whatever mood I’m in
I want you to understand my position, my thoughts
Hear me out let me in on this paper
My pen will talk
I write to tell you what’s inside
When I write, I feel, know I’m alive
When I write, you know my objections, you honor my war cries
When you meet me on the page, you also might smile
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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 is a beautiful and emotional poem and resonates with how I feel when I’m reading and writing. Please keep on reading and writing to feel alive. 🙂
Your poem is beautiful and exemplifies how reading a variety of stories can help you feel alive with new experiences. Please continue to read and write to be heard.
This is beautiful! From the very first line, I was engrossed. Definitely smiling from reading that poem.
I love this poem so much. Reading has been such a huge part of my life and I never feel better than when I have a book in front of me. I love your fifth line. I could not agree more, reading is the best way to feel. Also, your description of writing in lines 10 and 11 is perfect. Your poem is incredible.
Hi, JA,
As an avid reader and writer, I feel you. There is so much magic around the escape of a captivating story. Your poetry captivated me. I love the rhythm and the way your rhymes link the words together in a flow. I love your metaphors and your message. Please keep writing. You have a gift.
Thank you for sharing your poetry.
I loved reading every word you wrote. You are an amazing writer and have the ability to draw people in. I also enjoy how I can escape through reading. Words are a powerful thing!
Thank you for sharing this, JA! I especially love the line, “When I write, you know my objections, you honor my war cries.” This poem makes me think of a quote my friend loves: “I have loved words and I have hated them, and I hope I have made them right.” I think you have definitely made these words right.
Thank you so much for this.
As someone who is trying to get into reading a lot more it has inspired me to do the extra work. It is making me think about what reading personally means to me and how reading that way can make me select good books to read that suit my own desires. Thank you so much for this piece of work, sincerely.
Dear JA,
I loved this poem! I really love reading, so it resonated with me. You can explore so many places and learn so much through reading. Reading seems to be an escape for you — it is for me as well, when I am overwhelmed or stressed, reading can help me calm down and relax. I like your repetition of the phrases “when I” and “on the page,” it really highlights what happens when you read and where you go and what you feel. I like your use of the closely related sentences “when I read, I’m alive not dead,” and “when I read, I feel alive, not dread.” This is a really interesting juxtaposition (comparison). It is amazing that you have found such joy in reading, and now you are also able to express those feelings through writing! I am less of a writer, so I am inspired by what you are able to do. Thanks for a great poem and story!
Best wishes,
Joyce
You are absolutely right. I am not much of a reader, but everything that I have read has transported me to wherever the author wanted me to go. Words are very powerful. Keep on letting your pen speak because I want to read some more from you. Thank you for sharing.
This is such a good poem! You did such a good job writing! Keep up the good work and do not stop writing or reading!
Dear JA,
Thank you for sharing this poem. I particularly liked the line “When I meet you on the page, I smile, nod head in acknowledgement.” For me, that captured so powerfully the way that we can feel uniquely recognized by books, poems, and novels, in a way that creates a feeling of connection that is unlike any other form. Reading this reminded me how and why I take so much joy in reading, and it’s clear that you do too. I also think the line, “you know my objections, you honor my war cries” reminds me of why I like reading and writing so much, too, because in writing as opposed to arguing in person there’s more room to calmly address a person’s experience and point. This poem gave me a renewed sense of the power of words and writing–thank you.
Best,
JM
Hey JA. As a fellow reader and writer, I really connect with this poem. I too love the emotional rollercoasters and journeys we get to experience with the characters. Sometimes I feel like I live more so through book than the actual real world lol. The art of writing and the practice of reading can be gratifying experiences and your poem reminded me of how truly powerful it is. Thank you.
This is a beautiful poem, thank you for sharing! The poem was written well, and additionally it was written about a topic I can really relate to. Writing is such an exquisite form of art, and it can really provide us all with a creative escape whenever we need one.
I absolutely love this poem! I totally relate to how you feel about reading and writing — it’s an amazing way to learn about the world and express yourself. I especially love the line “on the page I’ve met other travelers” — so beautifully written! Please continue to write and express yourself — you have a great gift.
This is a beautiful piece! Reading has always been an escape for me no matter what has been going on in my life and it’s good to hear that you have also found solace in the pages of books. I like the juxtaposition you used between feeling alive and dead and how minimalist this is. Overall, really great work!
JA,
This poem is so relatable. Reading really is an escape for a lot of people. I also understand how writing is so therapeutic to people. I hope you continue to find the escape and joy of reading and writing. Keep writing because I truly enjoyed your poem.
JA,
I was so happy for you while reading this. It is always pleasing to hear that someone has found their outlet for expression because so many people struggle to find something that grounds them. Writing helps take us to another world and escape any negative feelings that we may have. Your poem explains so well how you connect with writing and reading, and I think it is very easy for readers to understand “your position and your thoughts”. I hope you continue to grow in your style of writing and only grow to love the art more.
Hi JA,
I really like this poem you created. I think that not many people during this day and age enjoy to read as much as past generations. People are more addicted to social media which can become insane at times. I think that it is awesome that you love to read because it can really clear someone’s mind and allow them to be at peace. It is great that you are able to write so well and enjoy it. Writing is one of the best ways to let your emotions and feelings all out. It is also great that you are open and willing to share these emotions. Thanks for sharing!
Shawn
As a writer and reader myself, I really relate to the poem. I love being able to dive into other worlds and experience other people’s stories. I wish I had more time to read than I do. Please keep writing!
What a beautiful poem!! I know that so many of us can relate to the unique and very personal experience that comes with reading and writing. I especially love your line “Hear me out let me in on this paper”– I’m definitely hearing you out, and I’m sure others can say the same. Keep reading / writing and enjoying every moment of it! <3
JA,
I too have read quite a lot of books, and I too have felt the emotions on the page come alive inside me. It is so unreal how merely reading these emotions can elicit the same ones inside you. I ain’t much of a writer, but I enjoyed reading your righting, and I feel like I got an idea of what’s inside you. I even smiled when I met you on the page.
JE
I loved your poem! The repetition was great and I loved how you expressed the power of words and how they can affect our emotions, that was really beautiful! I hope you keep writing because this was great! Thanks for sharing!