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April Write Night: Read AND RESPOND TO POEMS UNTIL 4/29→ 

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  • GET INVOLVED
    • Join Our Email List
    • Bring Free Minds to Your Group
    • On the Same Page: Write Night
    • Intern or Volunteer With Us
    • Give Poetry Feedback
    • Work With Us
  • DONATE
    • Donate Online
    • Other Ways to Donate
    • Employer Matching Gifts
    • Donate Books
    • New! Merch Store
  • About Us
    • Mission & Vision
    • Who We Are
    • In The Press
    • Supporters
    • National Projects
    • Resources For Educators
    • Resources For Incarcerated People
    • New! Merch Store
    • Contact Us
  • Our Work
    • Book Clubs and Writing Workshops
    • Reentry Services
    • On the Same Page
    • Books by Free Minds
    • Connect Magazine
    • Congressman John Lewis Fellowship
    • Thrive Under 25
    • Success Stories
  • News & Events
  • Poems
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Poem: “Ain’t No Second Life”

Poem: “Ain’t No Second Life”

By Free Minds Book Club | July 9, 2010 | 12

Ain’t No Second Life I started off when I was young, explicit situations. A whole lot of drama, family problems I was raised to have respect, but I was raised…

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Poem: “Conversion”

By Free Minds Book Club | July 9, 2010 | 12

Conversion Rafael to Rahael, one day it took. As I inhale then exhale, I pray by the book. From nothing to Islam, I like what I saw. From unstable to…

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Poem: “Time to Time”

By Free Minds Book Club | July 9, 2010 | 17

Time to Time Time to time I think about dying Time to time I think about crying Time to time I think about trying Time to time I think about…

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Poem: “Mystery Lover”

By Free Minds Book Club | July 9, 2010 | 12

Mystery Lover This girl dun blind my view like a shiny watch, She has my head thinkin’ emotional like the speech at the Million Man March. Sometimes I just reminisce…

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Poem: “Sphinx’s Princess”

By Free Minds Book Club | July 9, 2010 | 17

Sphinx’s Princess Jeweled beyond compare Worth more than worth, More beautiful than nature My sphinx’s princess.

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About the Poetry Blog

The poets featured on this page 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, and it 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.

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On the Same Page: Write Night

January 27, 2021, 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Read and respond to poetry by incarcerated writers! Registration is required; click here to RSVP.

Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop

Free Minds uses books, creative writing, and peer support to awaken incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youths and adults to their own potential. Through creative expression, job readiness training, and violence prevention outreach, these poets achieve their education and career goals, and become powerful voices for change in the community.

Winner of the 2015 Aspen Ideas Award from the Aspen Institute, the Justice Potter Stewart Award from the Council for Court Excellence, and the Library of Congress Best Practices in Literacy Award.

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