Skip to content

Write Night on Capitol Hill July 14: RSVP TODAY→ 

Free Minds Book Club Logo
  • 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
  • Contact Us
  • 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
  • Contact Us

54-N-Beautiful

54-N-Beautiful

By Free Minds Book Club | June 11, 2015 | 5

By: AH Dedicated 2 My Moms Ma, I want to apologize for the weight that my life choices have placed upon u, more over I want to thank u for…

Read More

Staring at the Wall

By Free Minds Book Club | June 10, 2015 | 3

By CW I was warned there’d be times like these But nothing could’ve prepared me for Dr. Swartz Who comes around once a week Peeking in my cell like he…

Read More

The Tears of a Prisoner

By Free Minds Book Club | June 10, 2015 | 2

By AR When I weep, I weep for those of us who’ve, as a result of our own whims, paid the price of our freedom. I cry for those of…

Read More

Body of Words

By Free Minds Book Club | April 14, 2015 | 1

By DM Call it what you want, I’m going to call it how I feel But one thing we all know is I’m going to keep it real I believe…

Read More

Is It Too Late?

By Free Minds Book Club | March 18, 2015 | 10

By DH Is it too late to save my soul from its evil flesh? Without causing me harm or laying me down to rest? Because my body has led me…

Read More
« Newer Posts
Older Posts »

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.

Archives

Tags

2021 Change children confinement Dreams emotions faith family fatherhood Fear freedom free minds Frustration future goals growing up Growth history Hope identity incarceration jail learning Lessons life loneliness Loss Love mass incarceration nature Pain peace poem Poetry prison racism Regret self society Strength struggle time violence writing Youth

Upcoming Events

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.

United Way of the National Capital Area (UWNCA) #9633
Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) # 75998

Connect With Us

P.O. Box 73618
Washington, DC 20056
(202) 758-0829
mail@freemindsbookclub.org

Facebook Instagram You Tube Twitter Good Reads Bluesky Social

Support Us

DONATE

United Way of the National Capital Area (UWNCA) #9633
Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) # 75998

United Way Logo
Global Giving Logo
Spur Local Critical Nonprofit Seal

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAILING LIST

Sign up to stay up-to-date on our work and opportunities to get involved!

© 2026 Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy Policy  | Terms of Service

Non-profit websites by Design TLC