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. These 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.
Click on the poem title to open it up, and then post your comments, feedback, and encouragement in the space below the poem.
It’s Your Life
By AM
It’s your life, live it to the fullest
It’s your life, make your plans for it wisely
It’s your life, think seriously about your future
(more…)
Change is All I Know
By TH
At first I had some fears
I’ll admit the concept seemed strange
Unsure of myself after all these years
I just knew somehow I had to change
To You From Me (Your Dad)
By BG
As I proceed to succeed
Relieved from all this grief
What’s needed is for freedom to ring
Continue as you are
My shining star
(more…)
You’re Everything
By DJ
You’re my sweet tea
You’re my caressing dream
You’re my light
A sunshine beam
(more…)
Untitled (Elephant)
By DH
Have you even seen an elephant at the zoo
Locked up with so many chains it can barely move
It must know that it’s big enough to break those cuffs
But it thinks it’s a failure and that’s why it’s stuck
Self Portrait
By: VB
I am painting my self portrait
For this work I have chosen the colors of silver, gold, and black
The silver stands for the struggle of my life
The gold for my good personality
And the black stands for my lonely nights
(more…)
Thoughts of a Confined Mind
By: DH
As a prisoner I think of what my life would be if my mother didn’t have 5 kids
Just them and no me
Would her life have been any better
If I didn’t live life as her criminal adolescent?
Poems of A Prisoner
By CH
Stuck in the mindset of a convict,
Trying to find a way out.
Prison populations freed daily,
But some never find a way to stay out…
Changing Ways
By VB
No New Year’s resolution for me
No crying decree
No promises, just average changes
Less time stressing
More time working out
Less time talking
More time learning
(more…)