Penitentiary Blues
By DP
Outcasted by society, looked down upon by peers
Abused by opinion, too afraid to face fears
Wants to be accepted, while invites get rejected
Resolution to my problem, still can’t figure out its Methods
Not counting days, but yet, the years
Racism, Hatred, it hurts and always seems to bring tears
Corrupt a good heart, was doomed from the start
Home is the finish line. But I’m stuck in a jar
Shaken and rattled, hope it won’t tear me apart,
My life, it matters and pride would leave you scared.
Confused by perception, Manipulated By ego
Silence is solitude, and peace is gone way out the window
How could the humble be meek, in a den full of lions
Don’t shade my light or Try to keep it from shining
I dream of the duty, I finally could put this all behind me
Life lesson Learned that I wish on nobody.
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.