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.
Life
By DJ
What is Life?
Life is like a thousand memories
Countless thoughts and endless dreams
Early morning, ocean breeze, river flow and shallow streams
What is Life?
There’s 1 God, people worship many
Life is full of hate, crime, jealousy, and envy
Sometimes life is joyful, sometimes life is stressing
Sometimes life is a curse, sometimes life is a blessing
What is Life?
Life is a journey to fulfill a purpose
Life is an open show that has closed curtains
Life may be short for some and long for others
But life is not for Brothers killing brothers
What is Life?
We Live, we Die, we smile, we cry
We mope, we whine, we waste valuable time
LIFE!!!!
Crayons
By JG
I am the color of electricity
Seldom seen, but innately powerful
I am the color of stagnated dreams
Suspended in time, unfulfilled
I am the color of true transformation
The color of self determination
Whatever color self pity is
I’m the opposite
I am the color of jewels
Like that diamond in the rough
I am the color of grace
Moving calmly and unafraid
I am the color of strength
Standing firmly on my square
The color of respect, courage, honor
When affronted by lesser individuals
I am the color of hope
The color of Martin Luther King’s dream
The color of Malcolm X’s resolve
The color of Noble Drew Ali’s fight
I am all colors
I am as colorless as the air we breath
I am the color of Judaism, Christianity and Islam
I am the color Peace
Change For Me
By TH
Change for me is…
A verb
So much more
Than just a word
(more…)
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