Poem: “My Life”
My Life
My life is great…
My life is surrounded by real and fake…
My life is laid in jail for a mistake…
To have a successful life
It’s never too late…
My life is good
A girl, two children, own house
So taking care of my responsibilities is understood…
My life is about my family and not a hood…
My life is filled with love and joy…
This child that my girl is 4 months pregnant with…
I hope it’s a boy
I don’t want my kids to be in jail for life
So I got to explain to them about
My life…
8 Comments
Leave a Comment
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.
Beautiful! This is very uplifting and inspiring. you are absolutely right, it’s never ever too late to have a successful life. Always keep that in mind!
I am a student in a community service course at Wayne State in Detroit whose goal is to engage with the community beyond the university. When I discovered Free Minds I was immediately thrilled to see the connections build around your writings and heart, and what you have to offer is a powerful and beautiful gift to the community. It was a true privilege getting the opportunity to read what is on your heart and mind, your desires and passions, thoughts, and struggles. You have so much to say, so much wisdom to give, and such deep experiences and desires to share with the community that people from all walks of life, backgrounds, beliefs, and ages can deeply connect with and affiliate with. Keep engaging with the community and making your voice heard. You bring healing, hope, and renewal of mind to many who have the privilege to share in your poetry. In regards to your poem, it is very insightful and lovely to read, as if I’m reading your inner thoughts. I love the about your kids and wanted them to grow in the right ways by and through teaching them about your life. Your story is such a powerful tool to use to raise your children. I hope you can enjoy them and be there with them. “Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.”― Martin Luther King Jr.
This poem is so sweet! I see that it’s been a while since you wrote this— I hope you’re out of jail or atleast doing well. Keep putting feelings into words like this.
-Maddy
I love the constant use of the language “My life”; it does a great job of honing in on the message of your poem. Keep it going!
To “My Life” poet,
Hello, I was very impressed by how this poem was written, and I felt connected to it. Your usage of being able to use rhymes made the flow of the poem interesting to read so I could follow along. Also, the repetition made everything come together nicely. I think one of the most important aspects of life is the love for your family. I can feel your pain about how badly you want to get back into the real world. While I was reading, I really enjoyed the key aspects about your life and how you want to set a good example for your child and your future child to come. Hopefully it’s a boy! Being a curious reader, how are you able to persevere through the struggles you have faced? I know that everyone makes mistakes in life. Nobody is perfect. You have made the overall context powerful with the final lines of the poem. Explaining to your kids about your life will probably be very difficult to do. Believe in yourself and help them learn for their futures to come.
Sincerely LL, Minnesota
I loved this! I think my favorite part is where you say “I don’t want my kids to be in jail for life–So I got to explain to them about–My life…” It’s so real and raw to say that in order to prevent our kids and future leaders from our mistakes, we have to own up to them and admit our faults. We need to be vulnerable with them (at the appropriate age of course!) so that they can understand that actions have consequences and hard work will pay off. I am really glad to see that you can identify the lights in your life and hold on to them dearly to help you get through this hard part of life. You got this! Because you’re right, it’s never too late to create a successful life. So keep pushing and I wish you the best!
The originality of your poem is heart felt. You’ve explored a theme in a way I’ve never seen before, and it feels mind-leveling and innovative. Although times may get hard, you remain steady and fluently confident in the future and what it may hold. God bless your heart for this magical piece.
It’s very clear how much you care for your family and value them! Your determination to guide your kids and share your experiences is truly admirable.