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.
Poem: “If There Were More”
If There Were More…
If there were more things for the children to do in the community,
it would decrease murder, drug dealing from the youth.
Put recreational centers for them.
When the kids growing up and see people on the corner
with money and cars, shooting every night
they are going to like it
and want to become a fast money getter.
Look at it in a different way.
We are not raised this way
but people think children don’t see anything
but we see it all
then we become a victim of the system.
It took for me to come to jail to want something in life.
I want to be a firefighter or an architect.
But if there were more things for me to do in my neighborhood
I would not be here.
If there were more things for us children to do…
Instead of waiting, let’s take action and help the children,
so they can become successful and not disrespectful.
If there were more…
Poem: “Redemption”
Redemption
Redemption
is a lot on your mind
so it makes me want to shine
so when people look they might go blind
I live in the tree something like a pine
when I reach I’m reaching for the sun
and it’s the first time …
I’m not reaching for a gun.
Poem: “The Road for Me”
The Road for Me
Three months I’ve been in jail in one month it changed me.
My first poem “Change” was the new me.
I’m mad it took this to help me see.
There’s better things than just being on the block doing nothing.
I understand that you many have grew up on crime and don’t know anything.
But change is easy just let it be.
The things I did was for the adrenaline rush and out of curiosity.
I’ve done what I wanted and I won’t look back twice.
I’m looking forward to a better life.
I’m telling you if you’re doing crimes that road will leave you no reward at the ending.
I’m telling you that’s the wrong road from the beginning.
Poem: “Hear My Words”
Hear My Words
A soul and free will to do things is a gift from God.
Abusing my free will instead of listening, I ended up in jail. I feel like a retard.
My family knocked some sense into me and made me realize I only have one life to live.
My life I’m trying to live, people try to pull me down, it makes me feel as slavery is still around.
On top of that, within me is peace, at war with a beast when you look into my eyes maybe you can see.
Anger is an emotion I see that will always be, but patience is there to tame the feeling within me.
To forgive and forget is the best way to learn patience, do you agree?
Things that I’ve been doing have been assisting to be one with myself, you can say I’m finding me.
Change is one of the biggest factors that helped me if you change for the better good things will happen.
Look at me, I’m not speaking, but you hear me loudly. Call it my silent voice. My poems are the ship and my words are the captain.
I’m up all night arranging my letters to try to change the world because I feel no need for napping.
I watch as people hear my words and a lot of people they are attracting.
Poem: “Unknown Victim”
Unknown Victim
I was once a boy who was just a paycheck
being shipped around like the property he was.
I was once a boy who cried between the bars
that kept him away from the life he once call home.
I was once a boy who was lost without his mother
that was addicted to the pain that was keeping him away.
I was once a boy who didn’t know the man
that made him into a seed to have a life by a mother in love.
I was once a boy who thought having a gun
was something to value.
I was once a boy who was criminalized
by his society.
I was once a boy who had talent but sold his dream to the society
and got nothing in return but a flight to prison.
I was once a boy whose goal was set to be the man I am today,
a man that realizes his people are the most privileged people in America.
A man that realizes school was then the only place he can read all day
but he chosen prison because that where his corruption had leaded him to.
A man that realizes he had to build his temple with the proper tools
that have been given to him to go back into the society
to save those who are still in a slave state of mind.
A man that realizes we need to do what we have to do so we can do what we want to do
and that is to uplift those who are still hanging onto the darkness of their lower-self
and give them a grip of love, truth, peace, freedom and justice
so they won’t continue to feed corruption to the mind of our youth
because children today are our future and we need them to stand on top of the lightness of their higher-self
Poem: Word to Lil Brova
By E.M.
Word to Lil Brova
Well dis is what I got to say, don’t go out there running the street like me everyday.
I mean just look at where I am at and where I could have been in could have been at home with y’all but I’m in jail with my cuzzins and guess what we all failed.
I failed as a big brother to you I was there physically but not really there for you. I fought for you, kill for you, even when we were little I usta steal for you because that’s what I didn’t want you to do.
I got beat up for you, even got jumped for you because as a big brother that’s what I was there to do to protect and believe in you.
Since I was little my criminal way put me in awkward positions but as of today my criminal ways are finally finished.
Well what I’m really tryin to say is don’t be like me be better than me show me that running the streets don’t run in our family.
Don’t be no fool like me not going to school and breaking every one of mom’s rules.
Show me that you can go to school and get A’s and B’s and get on the honor roll don’t give it to the streets but give god your soul.
By the way give mom a rest she don’t need no more stress on her chest she already have enough coming from me that’s why she always have swollen feet but just tell her prop up her feet I’ll be home any day now from her son.
You’ll See
You’ll See
What am I doing in a cell?
I should be home getting ready to go to school instead of trying to make bail.
I realize my mistakes and that is good to know.
I’ve changed and I want to do better, but first I have to get home.
I see things differently now I won’t do wrong.
I know people say they not going go home and do the same thing.
But stupid they be and go do the same thing.
It won’t be me, I’m not going back out there and do the stupidity.
I’m going to go to school and get as educated as I can be.
I just need you to believe in me, on TV I will be you will see!
Silent Voice
Silent Voice
Hear me as I speak not out loud but silently.
No sound do you hear from me, but my words speak loudly.
My words hit you and your face drown with tears.
My words hit you and change appears.
I write to change I write to arrange all in a large range.
To not use your brain… You don’t think that’s insane?
To look down on each other that’s old it’s now lame.
To not want change you’re being ignorant you should be ashamed.
Assassinate your so-called differences.
Eliminate racism we are all human and we all possess a soul.
Help each other because we are all one in a whole.
No matter if you’re White, Black, or any race no one should be controlled.
I’m sixteen and I carry myself as if I was nineteen probably twenty years old.
My voice is silent but my words are very loud and they’re not getting old!
Poem: “What Don’t Kill Me Can Only Hurt Me”
What Don’t Kill Me Can Only Hurt Me
Remember when I was on the moped and got hit off
or when I was on the dirt bike and my hand almost got cut off
you probably think I was a daredevil wit the sh*t I was doing
but I was always under the influence.
I remember when I was younger and my mama used to leave me
and always left my grandma to feed me.
I had a lot of attention but I never wanted to be seen
I never thought of crying ’cause that wasn’t my thing
They say everything happens for a reason
I wish I knew mine while I’m sitting here counting out seasons.
Right now I feel like I’m in a lot of pain
and as 1, 2, 3, days go by
I still feel the same.
You heard, “What don’t kill you can only make you stronger.”
Well, I believe that metaphor no longer.
When your heart was broke did you feel stronger?
I bet your heart felt like it was in a coma.
What didn’t kill me left me wit a heart ache, cut, scare, bruise, or sore
and I never felt stronger then I was before.
Will I be stronger in the long run if you leave me?
Thinkin’ hell of a lot I think I found the key.
Everybody go off what they hear or see.
When the truth is what don’t kill
can only hurt me.
Poem: “Trapped”
Trapped
My vision obstructed by the bars on my window as I watch the sun’s incline
Regrets escape for only a moment, moving along hastily as time.
Trying to drift away from this place of hate with gates laced with knives,
but I’m trapped within a cage that holds me close while manipulating my mind.
The stone walls whispers attempting to soothe my hunger while caressing my pain.
Freedom, I strive for though some days I feel as if my struggle is in vain.
My cries for help are smothered by screams of frustration, day to day stress I live through
Yesterday was like today and tomorrow is the same I’m trapped in a realm of déjà vu
Why’s are no longer summoned while my pillow fondles my neck and head
Nights no longer filled with sweet dreams only nightmares pictures of the dead.
Tucked neatly in my coffin longing for slumber, just wanting to rest in peace
Instead I’m trapped in prison from being caged in by the streets.
Poem: “Generation X”
Generation X
Generation X the name they
gave us.
Foreseen to fail they described
us rebellious.
The worst generation
y’all say.
Why not explain to us or
better yet let me explain
to you.
I am one the Generation X
I can be cruel but also
good-hearted too.
The world changes and if you
are new to the world so
will you.
If you was me what
would you do.
Yes, I’ve been locked-up and
some of the best people have
too.
But don’t give up on me
because I wouldn’t have gave
up on you.
Let me tell you something…
I’m proud to be Generation X
because I will change the
world to a different tune.
So be ready to be shocked
because I am a part of
Generation X and I will be there to see
you soon.
Poem: “Don’t Give Up”
Don’t Give Up
I have come so far
There is so much I have seen
There is much more I want to see
But my incarceration tortures me
I keep my minds on books
That’s what keeps me free
I’m a free man in my thoughts
My body is stuck behind this cell.