What I Want
By TH
I want to be free as a bird in the sky.
I want to become a published author
and pass on a book of advice to my daughter.
I want to be loved and give love
to someone becoming worthy of being called my wife.
I want the federal system to fully acknowledge youthful offenders
incarcerated for offenses committed before their 25th birthday,
just like the IRAA and The Second Look Act already do in D.C.*
I want to travel to Mecca to make Hajj
I want to eat pizza in Rome
I want to drive up the Calfornia coastline in a convertible
I want to speak to the youth to tell them it’s a better way to earn a living
I want to start a non-profit for kids with incarcerated parents.
Last but not least I want to give back more than I take from the world.
*The Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA) and the Second Look Amendment Act are DC laws that state that individuals incarcerated for crimes committed when they were under 25 can petition the court for resentencing after 15 years of incarceration
81 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. Please keep your comments encouraging; we recommend focusing on how the poem makes you think, feel, or reflect. 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 poem beautifully captures a range of heartfelt aspirations, from personal freedom and love to social justice and spiritual fulfillment.
Hey TH, I enjoyed reading this poem to how hopefulness you still have of your future. I can see how hard it is to imagine a future to travel and have family of your own especially when you are incarcerated. I think that it is important to stay to your hopes and dreams for this day to come to make your dream come true to look forward to your future. I also like that you included the IRAA from the DC laws, as I was unaware of this law. It is interesting to know that this exists, and could help give hopes to the incarcerated people that have made a simple mistake when they were young. Thank you for sharing TH.
This is a great piece of poetry! The repetition of “I want” emphasizes the author’s yearning nature of the poem. The followed juxtaposed nature of deep and freeing wants to mundane things that people do in everyday life shows the yearning the author is experiencing. I also appreciate the use of punctuation throughout the poem. The use of periods as abrupt stops at the beginning and the end of the poem emphasizes the author’s stream of consciousness, depicting an almost sense that the author frequently gets trapped in the spiral of things that they want to do once they are out of incarceration. Overall, I think this poem is beautiful and shows great depth to the yearning nature of the author.
Hi TH, nice poem!
Your repetition of “I want” shows your determination and commitment. The poem’s last line is compelling; leaving the world better than we found it is something that everyone should strive for, yet sadly, some people don’t. I hope you are able to accomplish all that you want. Thank you for sharing!
Your poem offers me a glimpse into your dreams and aspirations, and beautifully captures the power of your goals from personal growth to societal change. You mention your desire to “give back more than I take from the world”, instilling the sense of purpose and selflessness that resonate with readers. The inclusion of a social justice element, advocating for youthful offenders, adds depth and makes the poem more impactful beyond your personal journey. Your work is authentic and leaves readers with a beautiful expression of your dreams and values that is both personal and universal, great work!
This is so beautiful and is a great display of your big aspirations and goals in life!
this poem was really informative
This poem is about the balance of the personal desires one has but also societal goals to be able to help the world. I really like the use of “free as a bird” because when I think of freedom, I’ve always associated it with a butterfly. The most powerful line is about the youthful offenders and the laws, but it could have been used in a stronger way by describing what these laws do to help make this message much stronger. The ending line about giving back more than taking from the world is very powerful but maybe adding about community work or activism showing how you want to give back can make the ending something that will be memorable.
I love that you lay out your dreams here–and that you dream big. The blank page (or computer screen) allows us and maybe even waits for us to dig deep inside and find what’s most important in our lives. You give us such meaningful details: I can picture the bird soaring through the sky and that awe-inspiring coastline. You also do a nice job of balancing the hopeful, happy dreams (like eating pizza) with the ones that are born from pain, like the last line. I hope you continue to put your dreams and sorrows into writing and find great comfort there.
I hope one day all of these wants come true for you, even the federal system but i hope you are able to be out one day and witness that one from the outside somehow. All of these sound like part of a utopia.
TH,
Your poem while short is so impactful. The last line brought tears to my eyes, it is just so raw and powerful. The fact you want to help other people when you get let out and give back to others is wonderful. Your dreams such as starting a non-profit for kids who parents are incarcerated, or the federal system to fully acknowledge the IRAA and the Second Look Act can be achievable. Change starts with one person and that person can be you so do not give up on your dreams! I hope you got what you want and you are eating pizza in Rome by the time with comment is seen by you.
This poem is very powerful and full of hope. I love how you balance personal goals with a bigger purpose, especially your determination to give back. This is very genuine and powerful, especially the concluding line.
Your poem is beautifully expressed and filled with inspiring dreams that show your heart and purpose.
This poem is essentially a manifesto of personal aspirations interwoven with a call for broader social justice. The speaker lists a series of desires that span from deeply personal goals—like being free, writing a book for their daughter, finding love, and traveling—to systemic reforms such as advocating for the rights of youthful offenders. This juxtaposition highlights how individual dreams can coexist with a commitment to improving society.
This poem was very heartfelt. I enjoy how it positively empowers hope and purpose, and the fact that its filled with ambition.
This poem reflects a deep sense of hope, ambition, and a desire for personal and social change.
The author expresses dreams of freedom, love, and success, along with a strong commitment to helping others, especially those facing hardships like incarcerated youth. The poem highlights goals such as becoming a published author, advocating for justice, traveling, and giving back to the world. It’s filled with a sense of purpose, showing that the writer not only wants to achieve personal happiness but also aims to make a positive impact on others, especially those who are struggling. The message of this poem is one of hope, service, and striving to make the world a better place, which is an inspiring reminder of the power of ambition and kindness.
I, as the reader, am so inspired to use the life I was provided to do good for the world and be thankful for all that I have and can give to the world.
This poem is full of aspiration!! The line ” I want to be free as a bird in the sky” is an amazing image. You mat want to add what that freedom would feel like to you to deepen the emotional resonance. The tone and rhythm of the poem flows well. The lines about the justice system are very powerful. I would clarify the acronym for those who do not know what it is. “I want to speak to the youth”… and “start a non-profit” are very mission driven. The closer is beautiful and sums up the poem in with humility and purpose.
This is a beautiful and inspiring poem, TH. You embody so much hope and perspective in your life, and I truly hope that you are able to succeed and fulfill all of your dreams. Your idea for a nonprofit for children with incarcerated parents is incredible, and I truly hope you are able to make it happen. You have an incredible mind, and you will able to excel and succeed in anything you are truly determined to do. I hope that you are able to give back to the world, just like you said in the last line.
This Poem is truly coming from the heart and I feel that anyone who reads this will also agree. This poem means a lot more, and It makes you step back and realize being grateful for what you have is the best way to go, and us humans cannot have everything we want.
You can do all of these things! There is life after prison and you will be able to accomplish all your hopes and dreams. Keep track of them, make yourself a list and it will inspire you to make it through the days. You are doing great, keep going!
This poem is so inspiring. It’s full of dreams and aspirations, from personal goals like becoming a published author and traveling, to deep desires to help others and give back to the world. The wish to make a difference for youth and incarcerated families is especially powerful. It’s a beautiful reminder of what truly matters.
I liked the repetition in this poem. It really added to the emphasis on yearning for the American Dream.
This poem expresses a deep desire for freedom, personal growth, and making a positive impact on others. It’s inspiring to see the dreams of helping others, seeking love, and creating change, all while aiming to give back more to the world than you take.
This poem beautifully blends personal dreams with social justice advocacy, creating a heartfelt and aspirational vision of freedom, purpose, and redemption. The mix of intimate goals—like love, writing, and travel—with systemic change adds depth and humanity to the speaker’s voice. A touch more poetic imagery could elevate the flow, but its sincerity and clarity make it deeply resonant.
Your dreams are powerful, rooted in love, growth, and a deep desire to give back—and that makes them unstoppable. Keep believing in your path, because every step forward brings you closer to the future you so clearly see.
Your dreams are full of purpose, love, and a powerful desire to create change—not just for yourself, but for others too. Hold on to that vision, because the strength and clarity in your words are already shaping a future worth fighting for.
This is such a heart-warming poem, and the repetition of “I want” shows the humility of the poem
I am glad you were able to express your desires through this poem. I am sure your wishes will come true soon!
This poem radiates with hope, purpose, and a deep longing for growth, justice, and love—each line a step toward freedom not just for the self, but for others too.
This poem echoes with powerful dualities, questioning the blurred lines between confinement and liberation, and inviting deep reflection on what it truly means to be free.
Hey Th! I think your poem is full of hope, dreams, and purpose and I really enjoyed that. I love how you shared your goals not just for yourself, but to help others too. The line about giving back more than you take really stood out to me—it shows your heart. Your message is powerful, and I believe your words can inspire change. Great job and keep up the great work!
This poem is a powerful, heartfelt declaration of dreams, purpose, and justice. The repetition of “I want” gives the piece a steady, almost prayer-like rhythm, emphasizing the sincerity and urgency of each desire. I loved the poem; it’s vulnerable, ambitious, and raw.
TH, I just want to say that I hope you are able to be free as a bird one day and help kids with incarcerated parents. Dream big!
I really liked your poem! I have always been a fan of non-standard poetry (ie, poems that don’t rhyme) and yours is powerful.
The last part of this poem is one I find so touching! The fact you wrote that you want to give back more than you take from the world speaks volumes about your character and shows how selfless you are. I wish the best for you and that you will continue to write and finally live out your dreams of becoming a published author. I think this poem is amazing and you could definitely make it there. I know it is hard, but try to stay positive and to not worry what is out of your control. Focus on what gives you peace, and if that is writing, please keep doing that! You are so strong!
I hope that one day our justice system evolves and takes into account the humanity of those who are incarcerated. I hope one day you will turn these aspirations into a reality.
This poem is heartfelt and inspiring, blending personal dreams with a powerful call for justice. Your hopes for freedom, love and legacy come through clearly, and the message about reform adds meaningful depth.
love your words and your vision i pray that you are able to get some of what you desire out of this life. I love the idea about a non profit for kids whose parents are incarcerated its a wonderful idea and I know it would make a huge impact on the lives of those children and their future.
Your opening line simile is very nice, being like a bird is like being an author, and then giving a book of advice to your daughter. Free verse poem is very beautiful and you did a good job carrying that out. My favorite line has to be “I want the federal system to fully acknowledge youthful offenders
incarcerated for offenses committed before their 25th birthday,
just like the IRAA and The Second Look Act already do in D.C.*”
I think with that, it carries out the unjust way this act makes you feel, being in a poetry class I realize that good poems are the ones you dig deep on, and the ones you are completely honest, when it comes from the heart you can easily tell and your poem lets everyone know that.
I love your use of similies!
This piece is a beautiful vision of purpose, healing, and hope—it speaks with the heart of a dreamer and the soul of a leader. Your goals reflect a deep desire not just for personal freedom and fulfillment, but for justice, legacy, and service to others. These words inspire belief in transformation and show that even from confinement, powerful dreams can soar.
This is so full of life and intention. The dreams feel specific and grounded in purpose, especially your desire to give back. It’s hopeful but also rooted in real advocacy.
Hi TH,
I love this poem! The repetition of “I want” clearly conveys the ambitious and hopeful tone of the work, and shows your willingness to make those things happen. I hope that these goals are achievable for you in the near future!
Great poem 🙂
This was beautifully written, thank you. You deserve all of that and more. I have been to Mecca—not for Hajj, but InshaAllah we will both be able to make that one day. The specific examples you chose and the way you arranged them in this poem were incredibly moving and really contributed to the strong feelings of frustration yet hope. Incredible job.
This was such a good poem! I really enjoyed how you were able to be so straight forward about these “wants” while also being so poetic (I’ve tried to do this and it’s incredibly difficult). The message is also so unique and inspiring. The use of repetition was super powerful and mentioning specific things, like the IRAA and Hajj, really gave insight into who you are. Thank you!
This poem is heartfelt and full of hope. It shows the writer’s dreams for personal freedom, love, travel, and making a positive difference in the world. The mix of big goals and meaningful causes makes it inspiring and relatable.
This poem is heartfelt and full of dreams, blending personal hopes with a strong desire to help others. I like how it moves from simple joys, like pizza in Rome, to deeper goals, like giving back and creating change for youth. It feels honest, inspiring, and full of purpose.
This is a very powerful poem. It contains desires and wishes that many people want to do at some point in their lives, but for this poet, they will certainly be more challenging to acquire. This poem shows how freedom is not to be taken for granted, but to be appreciated for the beautiful thing that it is. I also think the notion of giving more than taking is so valuable. If more people understood that being generous and putting others before yourself can genuinely change the world, we’d be living in a better place. Thank you, TH, for opening my eyes, impacting me, and sharing a vulnerable aspect of yourself. I wish you the best, and God bless.
I really appreciate the beginning of this poem. The simile to a “bird in the sky” speaks to your desires of freedom. As the poem progresses, we learn more about your wants- from travel, to writing, and future plans to give back to the world. There are good components of change making within this poem, but I want to learn more. What is this nonprofit for kids, how will it work, what exactly will it do to help these children. Thank you for writing this.
This poem is a heartfelt list of dreams. It mixes the author’s personal hopes with their desire to create change for others. The poem feels both tender and determined. It shows that the author is someone who wants love, freedom, and joy while also leaving a lasting impact on the world.
This is such a beautiful list of dreams and goals. I love how it blends personal hopes with a deep desire to give back and inspire others. It’s honest, uplifting, and really shows a heart full of purpose.
This poem beautifully blends personal dreams with a deep sense of justice and service to others. I really liked how your wants move from joyful experiences to powerful acts of giving back—such an inspiring vision.
This is inspiring—personal dreams and bigger hopes come together beautifully, showing both heart and purpose.
This is inspiring—such a beautiful mix of personal dreams, family love, spiritual goals, and a drive to create change. It feels both deeply human and larger than life, like a roadmap of purpose.
This piece is so moving it carries dreams that are personal, spiritual, and transformative all at once. I love how it blends a longing for freedom and love with a deep sense of justice and giving back. It feels like both a vision and a legacy in the making.
This piece is so moving—it blends big dreams with deeply human desires, from love and family to travel and faith. What makes it powerful is how personal hopes (pizza in Rome, driving the California coast) sit right beside systemic ones (IRAA, Second Look Act). It shows that freedom is not just about being outside prison walls, but about building a life of purpose, legacy, and giving back. The closing line especially leaves an impact—it frames all those dreams within service to others.
This poem is so heartfelt. It reads like a manifesto of hope, intermixing everyday desires (pizza in Rome) with goals (faith, giving back), which makes it so inspiring. The poem expands from the self to community, showing a vision of freedom for all.
I really enjoyed this piece — it felt both heartfelt and inspiring. I like how you shared your wants in such an honest way, from personal dreams like love and travel to bigger hopes like justice for young people and helping kids with incarcerated parents. The mix of big goals and everyday joys, like eating pizza in Rome or driving the California coast, made it really relatable. What stood out most to me was the last line about giving back more than you take — that felt like the heart of the whole poem, and it left me with a lot of hope.
You wrote a beautiful expression of the idea of a better future that keeps us going. I sincerely hope you receive the life that you wish for and deserve! Our dreams are what keep us going, and your dreams inspire me as well. Thank you for your beautiful words.
I really liked this poem because it’s honest, inspiring, and full of dreams that feel real and personal. The way you listed your goals made it easy to follow and showed different sides of who you are—your hopes, your love for family, your desire to help others, and your passion for experiencing the world. This poem is very inspiring and heartfelt.
I got chills. Thank you for sharing, and thank you for the last line. I’m sure your daughter is proud of you. Sending you all my love.
This poem is really heartfelt and full of hope. I love how it mixes big dreams with deep values, from personal goals to wanting to make a difference in the world. It feels honest and inspiring, like a reminder to keep striving for growth, love, and purpose.
This poem is filled with hope, purpose, and a deep desire for redemption and connection. Each line carries both personal dreams and selfless ambitions, showing a heart that seeks not only freedom but also to make a difference in others’ lives. It’s inspiring how the writer balances personal wishes, love, travel, and creativity with powerful goals of justice and giving back. The poem feels like a promise to live meaningfully, turning past struggles into a future of hope and purpose.
This poem is heartfelt and aspirational, painting a portrait of hope, redemption, and purpose. Each “I want” builds momentum, revealing a deep desire not just for personal freedom, but for impact and legacy. The balance between spiritual goals, simple joys, and social justice gives it depth and sincerity—it reads like a vow to live meaningfully after hardship.
This poem is lovely. It really shows hope, passion, and a desire to make choices for oneself and their loved ones. It shows how all people have dreams of traveling, sharing memories with loved ones, and a passion to give back to communities that are often overlooked. Thank you for sharing this. It brings a new perspective to many peoples eyes.
This reads like a vision statement for a meaningful life. It’s not just about freedom, but about purpose and impact.
TH,
Thank you for sharing your words. They mean a lot, more than you think. I love your enthusiasm and your willingness to not only stay hopeful but to help those who are in your shoes. Using what you went through and are going through to help others not make mistakes and find a better way of living that’s not in this corrupt system. Keep writing! Stay encouraged!
This is powerful — these aren’t just goals, they’re life missions. I like how your list mixes personal dreams with service and faith. It feels like you’re building a future that’s bigger than the system that tried to limit you. Keep holding onto all of that — your “why” is clear.
This is such a beautiful list of dreams! I love how it’s a mix of big personal goals, meaningful social change, and pure joy like pizza in Rome and a convertible drive along the coast. Your vision shows so much heart and purpose, especially wanting to give back, help youth, and make the system fairer. Honestly, it’s inspiring to see someone so clear about what they want and why. Keep chasing these goals….. you’re already on the path to making a huge impact!
Your words are powerful because they carry both hope and purpose. What you’ve shared isn’t just a list of wants—it’s a vision for a meaningful life, one rooted in growth, redemption, love, and giving back. Every line shows a person who refuses to let circumstance shrink their capacity to dream.
This poem was so inspiring and touching. Every human is worthy and has something special to contribute to the world which you have expressed so wonderfully through this poem. I wish you the best.
Hi TH! This poem shares your dreams with honesty and hope, showing how much you want to grow and give back. You show a deep love for family, faith, and your future. You show that your goals reach far beyond yourself, aiming to help others and make the world better. I loved reading this, great job!
Your poem is moving because it blends heartfelt personal goals with a strong sense of responsibility to others. I like how you move from dreams of freedom, family, and travel to a clear desire for justice and reform, especially your point about acknowledging youthful offenders in the federal system. That gives the poem depth and purpose beyond individual wishes. The list of desires feels honest and human, wanting to write a book for your daughter, visit sacred places, experience the world, and ultimately give back more than you take. It creates a portrait of someone striving not only for their own growth but also for a positive impact on others. The poem feels hopeful, grounded, and full of intention.
This was touching TH. I hope one day you are able to do all these things. Thank you for sharing and keep writing. The world needs more of these words.
TH,
You’re dreaming about your future, your family, your faith, and your community all at once, and it shows how much you want to grow and make a difference. Including the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act into your poem encouraged me to google that Act to learn more about it because of how vulnerable and truthful you were in your poem.
This poem reads like a roadmap of hope—personal dreams woven together with a powerful desire for justice and service. Its honesty makes it uplifting, showing a life defined not just by longing but by purpose and generosity.
I love the last line in your poem! It was very touching to read and see how deeply you care about wanting to give back to this world. This is a very beautiful and heartfelt poem that shows a lot of emotion and yearning to do good things. Overall very passionate poem with big dreams and adventures.
This poem reads like a roadmap of someone dreaming big while staying grounded in purpose. It jumps from intimate hopes (love, family, authorship) to huge social visions and bucket-list adventures, which makes it feel both personal and universal. Overall, it’s a really honest snapshot of someone trying to build a life that’s meaningful, free, and generous.
This poem is full of longing, ambition, and love, blending personal dreams with calls for justice and systemic change. The speaker’s desires range from intimate (family, faith) to expansive (policy reform, service), giving the poem a wide emotional scope. It ends with a powerful commitment to giving back, highlighting purpose over circumstance.
I admire your hope and heart. I hope you achieve your dreams!
Hi TH, I really liked reading about your goals and dreams. It feels very real and personal. The part about wanting to give advice to your daughter stood out to me, it shows love and growth. I also liked how you want to give back to others. Your future feels full of purpose.