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.
Play Time is Over
By GB
If you knew me, you knew everything to me was a game
Took nothing serious, being responsible was considered lame
I would call myself a man, but nowhere near grown up
Complete juvenile, and no idea what was really up
Up the sleeve of reality, I didn’t even see the real world coming
The real world hit me hard, and the punch was really something
If it wasn’t for the punch to wake me up
I’d still be walking around acting like a toddler
The punch was my girl is pregnant, and I’m going to be a father
Everything that was a joke became real serious and fast
I want to be in my child’s future, so I got to leave the old me in the past
Cause being a good father has nothing to do with luck
Not even if you got a four leaf clover
Clowning around has been cut short, the game clock has struck 0:00
So, Play Time Is Over!!!
Lost in the Dark
By SK
I stare
Alone
In my four-corner room
Hoping for a better life
But I only get doom
Lost in the dark
Looking for light soon
Every corner that you turn
Guns pop like balloons
How to get out?
I can’t, I’m trapped
Make the wrong move
And it’s a wrap!
Trying to go forward
But I keep looking back
Lost in the light
And I’m blind as a bat
In the Land of Opportunity
By CM
In the land of opportunity
I’m at a stand still like scarecrows
I remember back in the day
When I had to share clothes
Too many nights with no lights
And the bed cold with no heat
So we had to sit near a stove
Damn…
I still remember them days
Moms had a lil’ job
But it was minimum wage
As a young’un I was street smart
But not as good at the grades
Why you think it’s called “the trap?”
‘Cause the hood is a MAZE!
I was pushin’ quarter pounds of dat pack
Try’na prosper in poverty
A part of me purposely perpin’
So please pardon me
Police be try’na bother me
People tend to push me
I wasn’t thinking logically
That’s when dem’ people took me
Now, I’m trapped in a cage
In the land of opportunity
And it’s kind of sad
‘Cause things are better in here
Than out where I used to be
No way out
My opportunities are bare
Hoping that when I’m free
The land will still be there
A Better Man
By SK
They judge from what they hear
And don’t know who I am
In my own shoes I stand
A strong and better man
The person I use to be
Ain’t got nothing on the new me
Wow—as I look back on my old life
How could I be a better man like Christ?
I went from a pebble to a rock to a boulder
I went from young, dumb, and all about fun
To wise older and bolder
Now I’m warm when it gets colder
Keep the past behind me
And don’t look over my shoulder
For I am a better man!
Dead and Gone Away
By GB
Old habits die young, that’s what they say
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, but in what way?
How do we reincarnate ourselves for the best
When it’s truly difficult to pass the test
Not the S.A.T. or the end of year finals, but the test of life
When we’re sent back to the real world and gotta provide for our kids & wife
My focus is to change my ways, and completely better myself
Stop worrying about dumb things like what people think, fly clothes, and having the most wealth
The time is now not later to get on the right track
‘Cause once I leave this federal jail, there is no looking back
That also goes for the streets and the negative influence around me
I gotta leave those things in the past, or otherwise in my son’s future I won’t be
Don’t want that, so getting my shit together is a must
Not trying to lose him or his mother, nor their love & trust
So once I am fully rehabilitated, the new me will be here to stay
Then I’m going to say goodbye to my old self, ‘cause the old me will be
Dead and gone away
Changes
By CW
There comes a time in our lives
When we reach the point of adulthood
Where we get rid of our childish mentality
And grow up
And we’re put into rough situations
That we’re mature enough to think our way out of
Where we learn how to conquer those situations
And not depend on someone else to always be there
To pick us up when we fall
There are a lot of obstacles we face
That determine our maturity
And when we overcome them
We know that we’ve changed
Nothing To Do With You Parts I and II
By James
Nothing To Do With You
In our absence of each other
An abscess has been discovered
And in the vacancy of me as a father
Why should you now bother?
With a stranger whose had nothing to do with you
Your thoughts of me are disgust
Your few memories of me you distrust
Because all you see is the struggle in your Mothers eyes
Her love shielding you from all my lies
The little things which could have meant so much
Are irrelevant, don’t hold loves element, because I didn’t keep in touch
Now, out of nowhere I’ve written
As if all’s forgiven
When it’s you I’ve neglected
Now it’s me you’ve rejected
So we continue not to speak
It’s not your forgiveness
It’s your love I seek
The shame of irresponsibility was my excuse
The worthless pride of my vanity the abuse
The manipulating lust I burdened you and your mother with through the egotistical male I once was and
You feel I still am
My self depreciating values have changed
Perspective rearranged
Knowing one day you’ll comprehend
That too truly love, hate must wither, and then end
Nothing To Do With You- Part II
… And forgiveness is earned through the ability of responsibility to remedy every shameful condition
Repent in total submission
To your perspective and together create a pure directive to solve my failing human traits so you won’t generate
The loneliness of separation we share that was passed down from my sperm donor, to me
As you reflect upon this state of neglect
I pray you detect my respect
For your birth
You’re the sum of life’s worth
I’ve killed my fear and smothered my shame
Turned my back on vanity and thoughts are no longer lame
I quit drinking inconstancy
Quit getting high on instability
Quit cheating with weakness and wallowing in misery
Accepted these faults and willfully pay my due
These lessons are well earned
Because the purpose of concern
Is for you to reap the benefits from the clear-cut footprints of the mistakes that I’ve sown
So when your life’s sum is in need
You can find guidance past turmoil’s in truth of my deeds
And in toil defeat the desires and passions that wage war within your self
This is what a father shall do
So let’s create time
Where we’ll heal your heart and you’ll teach mine
I will understand who you are
And respect who you’ve become
And be blessed you’ve allowed me this view
After all
The sins of the father
Have nothing to do with you
God?
By DL
If you there God, and you can hear God
Send me to hell, yeah, I’m prepared God
Give me a slow death, I want the “chair” God
You ain’t a fair God, you don’t care God
If you can hear God, then why ain’t you here God
You a rare God, ‘cause you never there God
When I’m sad God, you become a glad God
You never satisfied even when I give you everything I have God
Where’s my dad God? Are you my dad God?
‘Cause if you are, I don’t wanna follow in your path God
And if I’m your work of art, then you did a bad job
Your Son failed God, how could you let him take them nails God?
He was impaled God, I know you heard him yell God
I guess it’s all good, but where’s the “Holy Grail” God?
Answer the question God, am I your self-reflection God?
Do you rock dreads, an earring, and a bright shiny necklace God?
Is that even me God? Then tell me who you see God
‘Cause before I get back on my knees God, I’d rather rest in peace God
My good deeds God? What good deeds God?
How could I be humble to a million enemies God?
What is “life” God? WHAT IS “LIFE” GOD?!
Never mind, just tell me why it comes with a price God
You see my mom God? That’s your wife God
Watch her for me please, be her lifeguard
I just hope that she believes in the right God
What’s wrong God? Are you alright God?
The questions I never heard you ask your child on these cold nights God
Always Had My Mother
By AH
Dedicated To My Moms
I seen my mother go through withdrawals
I smelled the heroin coming out of her pores
There was days I had nothing
There was nights I had nothing
But my mother
We used to pray 4 better days
Momma always made a way
There was times I didn’t have no food
There was times I didn’t have fresh shoes
But I had my mother
Momma always held strong
She never worried that my father was long gone
There was times I couldn’t get love from my own kind
There was moments that I second guessed my own friends
But I always had my mother
Rocky Road
By AG
As I travel this rocky road
Obstacles await me I once was told
So I humble myself in order to prepare
And not fall victim to meaningless despair
In the back of my mind streets calling my name
Yelling/screaming, jail doing the same
I hold my head up and continue my walk
Consumed with a thought
That days will get better is this frivolous talk
It’s a daily struggle when wearing my shoes
Statistically speaking I’m destined to lose
Either live with the odds or open my eyes
It’s me who controls my own demise
The strong will progress
The weak will fold
Are you bold enough to travel this “Rocky Road”?
(This poem is dedicated to young black men like me who welcome trials and tribulations in everyday life. However, you must keep in mind that sometimes you must experience the worst before it gets better)
My Family
By GB
Me & my girl, we’re having a baby, so now I have a family to provide for
The mission is to get outta here early, capture success, regain what I lost, and a whole lot more
Those two mean the world to me, an’ I’ll go to the end of the earth for them
One is my future wife, one is my soon to be son, and both the two are more valuable than any diamond, jewel, or gem
Also I refuse to let any harm come to them by any fool, joker, or clown
An’ I will never forget that—there is no way I’m going to let them down
‘Cause they give me strength, and without them I’m nothing
A husband & a father—now that’s something
So when I get home I’m getting on my hustle the legal way
No more streets for me ‘cause when I come home, I’m here to stay
Gotta get a nine to five, nothing but job hunting for me
Dope boy no more, working man is all I can be
I’m going to be in my son’s life, and no more having my girl up worrying & waiting by the phone for me to call an say I’m alright
I’m going to be the one taking him to school in the morning, at work in the day, and in the bed next to her at night
I’m just going to carry myself in a manner so manly
‘Cause there is no room for failure,
And I’m just going to be the man I’m supposed to be
For My Family
My Mark
By MB
I’ll be a businessman who is down for the struggle
I’ll be taking care of my family
Even though I grew up
In one of the roughest neighborhood in NE DC
I’ll help friends out with jobs
I’ll own an electrician company
I’ll be quiet and laid back
I’ll love to drive fancy cars
I’ll be the one who was a menace to society
I’ll be the one who never again gets caught up with police
I’ll be the one who stays fresh and loves the females
I’ll be the one who leaves a mark