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.
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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
Complete Me
By GB
I’m not whole without her
She’s my entire mind, body, and soul
Without her I’m empty & lost
An’ I don’t know which way to go
She’s my navigator
An’ the only one that operated my heart
It only beats for her
An’ without her it feels as if it’s been ripped apart
The passion I have for her burns within me,
An’ the flame cannot be extinguished
‘Cause the love we share is far from over
An’ nowhere near being finished
She’s the ying to my yang
The Michelle to my Barack
Our love is timeless
Like a forever spinning clock
For her to mean so much to me
I really took her for granted
As if she meant least
Now without her
My heart is like an unfinished puzzle
Missing a piece
I guess it’s true
You don’t know what you have until it’s gone
Now you want it back, but it just can’t be
So I promise to make it up to her
She deserves it; I love her so much
She’s my other half
She completes me
Prisoner of Society
By GD
Sentenced to life with a mandatory 20 years in poverty
Forced to grow and learn the menace way
Pitching stone after stone on the block
Waist heavy, protecting self with a glock
Not knowing I’m someone’s most prized stock
Placed in the ghetto, better known as the PJs
Where we are someone’s biggest project…
Subject to get a death sentence if caught slipping
All because I’m just living
A prisoner of society
Where laws are set by those who stand higher than me
Who are quick to say “by the power invested in me”
When all I desire is to be free
Free from being a prisoner of this society
If I Die
By CR
If I die
I want to leave a mark
That everybody could remember
Like be the first to come out of jail
And become a helpful person to the community
To be an EX-gang member
That becomes a CEO of a construction business
Or an architect that once was a felon in prison
The mark I leave
Going to maybe change the way
Hispanic youth think and act
If I die
I want to leave a mark
Lonely Patients
By MS
Thinking hard, my thoughts keep on drifting to many things
Mostly that which I’m missing
Family, freedom, the touch of a lovely woman
A lot of thoughts bottled up but no one to listen
Trying hard to be patient throughout my trials & tribulations
But that can really be a test in my situation
Being all alone in a place so far from home
Waiting for something so close, but the wait seems so long
Just need someone to talk to and listen to my thoughts
But since I’ve been away, most people ran off
See, these are the times when reality is hard to face
But I know things will get better if I be patient and wait
I Am
Collaborative Poem By MS and MK
I am a human being
I was judged but never got to be heard
I hope for better days
I fear losing this every day fight I’m in in with the hard knock life
I love to hear the bird chirp smell of grass and the sight of the free world
I dream of making a change that could benefit me and everyone who’s to come after
I wish to move on with my life
I laugh to keep from crying
I cry to keep from dying inside