Wise Up and Rise Up
Don’t just us by what you see
We know we made a huge mistake
Praying for forgiveness on our knees
God on our mind we seek for change
Yet there are still more left behind
Coming along but will take some time
We are ready to move forward
But there are peoples who hold us back
Snatch our freedom and our youth
It is so painful, can’t tell if it’s a heart attack
Now, I believe some of us will make it
Mind on track focusing on the goals
At the end it’s up to us to take it
So let’s wise up and rise up!
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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.
Keep writing! Your words are inspirational.
“can’t tell if it’s a heart attack”
This is a powerful line—in a few words, it captures so much feeling, both emotional and physical. Striking.
I love this poem! Learning and growing can be painful, and it can be so hard to learn and grow when people judge us by our worst mistakes. I hope you learn from your past and grow into the best version of yourself. Keep writing!
KC