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.
Thoughts
By RD
Drowning not from water but from thought.
Can’t stop thinking, can’t stop from deep thought.
Sometimes I think too hard and make the situation worse
Sometimes I think so much,
the thing I started thinking about I forget what it is.
Like I can be thinking about bananas, but can be talking about my ears.
Trying to stay on subject but I’m thinking too much
So this poem I will leave incomplete,
But really…who cares!
It Seem
By TO
It seem like I only can write about love
Cause I love too much
I didn’t know love make you feel like you’ve been struck
Struck by lightning and make you die
I didn’t know love make you cry
The only way I don’t stress
Is when I’m prayin’ and writing some kind of poem
I wanna be outside but not in no storm
It seem like I’m down and out
When I should be up and about
It seem like love ain’t for me
It like love ain’t ‘pose to be
Love hurt but people act like they can’t see
It seem like life upside down
Or like some people are clowns
The Flight of Love
By RW
Why are you willing to love?
Because if you are willing to love you are willing to get hurt,
and if you are willing to get hurt you are willing to feel pain,
and if you are willing to feel pain you are willing to cry,
and if you is willing to cry…
Then you might react, and it may not be in a good way.
How can you tell someone you love them and cheat on them and smile right in their face?
Love is the reason why my friend caught his two cases.
Love is like an airplane.
It can take you many places, but when it land you may not be content with your destination.
Need Some Help
By AH
These walls are closing in slowly but surely
Everyday it’s getting harder 4 me to breath
It’s like I’m not the man I once used to be,
but I know they won’t believe me
My heart screams 4 love, but it’s ignored every time
What will it take 4 me to truly unwind?
I guess I’m scared to let the world know the real me
Could it be that I’m my own worst enemy?
If these walls would talk they would tell a deep story
About a boy that grew up lonely and hungry
With a tear stained pillow and a heart full of hate
With an empty stomach and a heart full of broken faith
No guidance nor supervision
Never told to be quiet, shut up and listen.
A man before my time
Lived hard before I even got a chance to live
I remember telling myself that something’s gotta give
There’s no greater pain than a neglected child’s
No love in my house hold and u expect me to smile
Come on, let’s be real, I am to you what I am to everybody else
A troublesome youth that needs some help
Thinkin’
By AT
See ma I was thinking
How I been in trouble so many times
‘N you was there
I wish I can take back them times
‘N show you I care
Not just by staying out of trouble
But education-wise
I just want to show you
The next time I will shine!
Empty
By G B
Without you I’m incomplete
No strength just weak
Being away from you is punishment enough
Missing one child’s birth is just as tough
I’m so lost to you and trying to find my way
Way back to you, cause my heart weeps for you everyday
I would give anything just for one kiss
But it’s looking into them eyes I truly miss
Boo, your love for me is better than gold
you’re my other half, without you I’ll never be whole
I need you more than you’ll ever know
Time is going fast but it feels so slow
Slow is for a turtle or a snail
But’s not ok for a man in a federal jail
The longer I’m here the more I feel sh***y
But the longer I’m away from you I just feel
Empty!!!
My Life
By MD
Did you ever do push ups
And it seem like you don’t get bigger?
Have you ever spoke
And it feel like no one is listening?
You ever want to learn
And there is no teacher?
Well, I have
It’s not fun
So I turned to the street
And thought I found love
All I found was a game
That can’t be changed
There was no love
And u must play for keeps
In my eyes
There was more dying than living
More crying than smiling
More sad than happy
Searching While Lost
By RD
Lost in a world I didn’t ask to be brought into.
Lost…confused…who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose?
Wandering with the look of nothing on my face, because I know nothing of myself.
Confused because I am lost and lost because I am confused.
The questions I need answered I don’t get an answer, I barely get clues.
Searching for myself and got lost in the process.
Searching for myself in a world I am lost in.
Searching … lost… confused, I have no clue where to begin.
Lost… lost in this world but maybe I’ll be guided in the end.
Lost but still searching, I want to know myself within.
Curiosity and determination will fuel me until the end.
Lost in a world I didn’t ask to be brought into,
but live I will with a grin!
Wrong Time
By TO
When I was home
I had da wrong mind
Sometimes I was at the wrong place
At da wrong time
I use to play da game
And have da wrong plan
I feel as though I’m da wrong type of man
My good words are blind
I think I did things at da wrong time
Drug Free at Last
By AR
Mind, body, and soul still you uphold
From the toxins that had you controlled
Because of your blinded eyes
They appeared as gold
Many days you said you would leave that road
But for many times under pressure you had fold
But now that’s no more load for you to hold
And when I say drug free I’m bold
Yes I because now I’m me
And as strong as I can be
But never looking down at those lower than me
And only looking higher for more to achieve
So when you look at me only believe
That my old habits finally let go of me
And know thanks to God
I’m Drug Free At Last
16 on the Juvenile Block
By LS
I just want to be young and going to my prom.
I want to be having fun with my friends at school and playin with the girls.
I want to change my life and not be on dis Juvenile Block.
Be out in the community with my little brothers and sisters.
I wish could go home and start all over so dat I don’t have to be 16 on a Juvenile Block.
$$ Money $$
By AJ
Money… money… money…
It’s what everyone out to get!
Drug dealers, prostitutes, police, people want it, illegal or legit.
It’ll have you doing things you’ll regret you did,
Stabbing, robbing, shooting everything above,
But in the end, it’s actually showing you no luv.
Think about it! Its nothing but paper with a dead president
And believe me, dying and going to jail for something that’s nothing but debt
Is not worth it!
So don’t listen to 50 Cent’s, “Get Rich or Die Trying” quote!
Because it will have you worshipping it as a GOD
With blind faith and material hope
So don’t let it stress you out, drive you crazy, or go out of your normal ways
Because at the end your gonna be judged on what you did to get it here on your earthly days.
Okay, yeah you need it no doubt dat’s true
To survive and live comfortable, and to get things necessary for you
There are people who’ve accumulated too much of it
Looking down on people belittling them and that’s not right.
Who are you to judge? You’re not the all knower.
You’re the child of Adam, so you’ve also taken’ a bite.
People even occupy Wall Street, just to go on strike
Until the police comes and tellem’ to take a hike
Money… money… money…
It’s like you’ve stabbed the entire globe with a long razor sharp knife
But before you killem’ let everyone know that
“you CAN’T take MONEY to the AFTERLIFE”
This poem is for people who think about money 24/7 . I just want people to know don’t let your whole life be about getting money. You will totally miss out on life’s lesson and not be happy about living, just stressed over paper. I want people to know dat money is not everything, you think it is. Don’t worship money, let it worship itself.