As the cold steel door
Slammed behind him
With a gigantic dull clung
His heart sank
Deep into
The bottomless pit, of his soul.
Sentenced to five years
For stealing, one too many cars
Now Begins a lesson
Of true life.
Placed in a cell alone
For this one night
Giving him a chance to search
Into a losing soul.
Tomorrow brings the beginning
Of choices he must make
Survive, do or die
Some nights even cry, muffled
Into his pillow.
In that smelly, hot humid night
Not too distant from his cell
He hears
The voice, of a grown man
Crying.
His begging goes unheard
By not a single, deft ear
Leave me alone, the man yells
In low subdued cries.
A more bass voice
Whispers deadly threats
A small struggle, don't last long
The begging voice
Turns to sorrowful whims
Lost in a night in hell.
A sunless morning arrives
With crazy yells
For all inmates to wake up
A new day begins
The new young inmate
Knew no rest.
That begging voice
Lingered in his head
Still ringing in his ears
Now he knows
Here is home, for at least
A few years.
As he walked towards orientation
He gathered his baddest Strut walk
Leaning back
Arms swinging, side to side
Silently saying
Mess with me, if you dare
Mine is to do or die
Not just survive.
My brother spent 8 years in jail for a minor crime. I am not excusing his actions because I do believe in the saying 'Do the crime and spend the time'. We are from a privileged background and although he was brought up in a wealthy home, a drug addiction caused him to slip into a life of crime. I visited him many times in prison and experienced a lot as a result. Reading your poem brought this all back to me. It is very well written. Thanks for sharing.
Chanti
Reviewed by Judy Lloyd (Reader)
Reviewed on December 12, 2004
Yep you captured the inmate alright but the swagger won't last long before they decide he isn't so tough. Just wish more kids would learn about the realities of a jail cell before it is too late.
A chilling write, more frightful than most horror flicks. Some of our wayward youth, first time offenders and wannabes, should be made to visualize, anaylyze, mediate on, and memorize this one, William.
I have learned a lesson in the "New School" through its verslines of sublimed emotions pumped by the heart of a wise soul. This prose-poem is an inspiring teaching composition of poetic art.
It seems such a waste to do things that will get you locked up and cause you to lose so many years of your life. Whatever fun or money he got from stealing those cars, will have never been worth the years he will have to give up. I suppose the thrill is in the trying to get away with something and not in the doing time. Powerful write with exceptional images, William.
Take care,
Sherry
Reviewed by Thomas Lanechanger (Reader)
Reviewed on December 11, 2004
Reminds me of that show I’ve seen on HBO called, “Hard Time.” If they would pass this around to every school in America, maybe more teenage kids and young adults would not turn to a life of crime. It’s a heck of a lesson to learn the hard way. Excellent write. Thanks for sharing it. Take care and be well.
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Chanti
Love Tinka
Peace and love,
Carole
Long Healthy Life in Freedom, Poet!
Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU
Take care,
Sherry