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.
My Heavenly Friend
By AR
If you leave where will I be
If you weren’t here what would I see
When I look at you
I see a person of all one could be
And when I’m your presence
I feel that paradise is upon me
When I need you you’re always here
I can’t find the words because none can compare
But for a friend in me I hold you dear
Because you’re an individual
Of much love, wisdom, and patience to share
A good friend is hard to find
But God bless me with one that defends
And for that blessing alone
It’s time I start giving mine
And show a light of my own that shines
Thank you my heavenly Friend
Color Blind
By DA
Not holding a grudge because of your ancestry
No mad because I may have to work extra hard to not get a felony.
Don’t allow the derogatory words to have an impact on my view,
the way I see things and the functions I get into.
I greet you in peace,
Even if you dislike me.
That’s strength in its own
Also my reality
that’s painted in the poem!
I Was Once Considered A Number…
By GD
I was once considered a number
Locked away deprived of my shine.
Late night story telling through the bars to a friend,
Headline reading, from much stress and worries,
Newspaper headline and Fox 5 press stories,
Made me out to be an animal something unreal,
Like I had no heart or emotions to feel.
Free-minds changed everything with a speech I could feel
Taught me how to put my words on paper so the whole world could feel
I told me to keep my head up high and my feet down low
Promised to help me on this long road I had to go,
They have kept this promise on this road so far
Sending warm greetings and smiles from a place so far.
Now I feel in debt not just to myself but them
To prove the world wrong that I didn’t lose
But I promise to win…
I
By RD
“I”, I say “I” because even around people in this place I am alone.
Supporters on the outside but inside I am on my own.
Waiting, sitting, waiting, sitting, time going by, when am I going home!
Frustrated with the situation but calm I must appear.
Because in the jungle I reside in,
people feed off your weakness. I refused to be the pray in here!
I walk around with my head up my chest out…appearance without fear.
If caught slipping it will be as a strong hunter and a weak deer.
But I have a feeling soon the path will be clear.
Clear enough to get on with my life not as a weak deer!
I, I am alone, but strong keeping my head up and my chest out and my mind clear.
In my direction you see nor sense weakness,
so to figure me out hard you stare.
In my direction all you can say is you see a man without fear!
Teach Me
By MD
Teach me and I will learn
Instead of pushin’ me away
Show me a way
Instead of calling me dumb
Make me smart
My hand is out
I’m willing to learn
Teach me and I will learn
When will it be my turn?
Like Dr. King, I have a dream
Stop the pain, it burns
Don’t smoke your mind away
It’s there for a reason
Teach me and I will learn
Immured *
By MS
Isolated behind the walls of a unorthodox jungle
Living with a vengeance because so many people turn their back on you
Never giving up because that’s what it’s designed to make you do
A convict’s mentality is the only way to make it through
Tryna stay peaceful, but these suckaz make that
hard to do
So, I just keep a Free Mind because that’s what Tara and Kelli motivate me to do
*Immured: (verb) to enclose within walls; confine.
My Nine Months is Up
By NH
I have waited which has seem to
be forever for the day that I must be born which is
today, this small body of mine seems not to be wanting to leave
this isolated womb but my mind is telling me that there is a different
and better world outside of this womb of a mother whom I haven’t yet
met.
I bet she is going to be the best mother of all because it is her who
has been feeding me whatever I desire for these past 9 months,
I can’t wait to be taught everything that she knows, I wanna
know about the earth, mother nature, my nationality &
those who have sacrificed their life just so
that the next generation like myself can have freedom and when I’m
born I do wish to see the open arms of my father whose duty is to
spend as much time with me as possible instead of spending
it on something that isn’t gonna benefit me to become-
a real man, I wish that he teaches
me to overcome myself because it will kill me if I become a statistic,
I don’t wanna end up selling drugs just because I wasn’t
taught any other way to be independent, I don’t wanna gang
bang- against my own culture just because I was
taught that was the only way to solve a
problem,
I don’t wanna end up being some
Body- with a thousand excuses of why I
haven’t got an education and a job and I would hate the most
to end up like someone who is too indolent to think for himself and
expect for things to get done by wishes and
hope.
I want to be strong not just physically but also mentally and spiritually-
I want to be a leader and not a follower, I want to have
a patterning in my life instead of just waking up
in the morning and not knowing what to do
with myself,
I want to be a man who fights
for what he believes in, A man who knows his creator (God)
and last of all I want to be a father and a husband who knows how to
cherish his children and wife because a man with many children and a
good wife is a man with many blessings
and
a good life.
Mi Vida Loca
By CR
I remember me saying:
Vivo una vida loca (living a crazy life)
I also remember saying:
Por mi madre vivo, por mi barrio muero (live for my mother, die for my hood)
But guess what now?
I’m tired of living that life style
Since I was 12
Now that I’m close to turning 17
While I’m locked up
Made me realize that I didn’t have a childhood
All I had was money, females, drugs
And witnessing wild things happen around my way
People say and still do say to this moment
When I come home: “I’m Dead”
But I fear no man
But the person who can judge me after I die
So like what my associates told me:
“You’re honorably discharged from your duties”
Achievement
By CR
People think that accomplishing something
Is nothing to them
But to me
Accomplishing or achieving something
Means a lot to me
Cuz I was the dumb one
Of all the kids my mom had
But when I accomplish something
I feel proud
Don’t Come Around Here
By Dh
Don’t come around here
Tryin act like you big dog
Put your hands on me
You get with a hot ball
You left me running around backwards
Finding out the hard way
Learning from my peoples
& My men from the Toga
Taught myself to get money
& How to honor the code
So what I’m in jail
This the life that I chose