Thoughts From A Man Sentenced As A Boy To Die In Prison 26 Years Later
Covid in prison is a death sentence
religion makes no difference
nor does repentance they simply don’t care
The masks we wear are cloth and made by prison factory workers
which have been proved to not be effective
Social distancing is neglected, I watched one person watch it and
his cellmate left in the cell, later given another one
Days after he tested positive and the cycle continues
What’s on the menu? A recipe for disaster
I want a chance to go after my dreams and share laughter
happily ever after with those I love
Hug my nephews who I’ve yet to meet
Set my feet on terra firma
I’ve learned the very real ideals behind the minds that designed
these concrete caskets, for bastards unlearned
I’m firm in my stance, one chance is all I ask to be afforded,
as a man
I understand the actions of me as a child caused great grief, pain, anger, and heartache
And I’ve changed, become transformed by the renewing of my mind
Twenty six years in total is the time I’ve spent learning, since age 16
I have a dream, similar to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
that freedom will ring my doorbell
Allow me to sleep well at night awakening to my beautiful wife and children!
***
Black History Month Edition
We’re living in a world divided,
divided by race and class
Grasp if you will what it feels like to speak clearly
and not be heard
Words overlooked and not understood
My neighborhood was not my choice
What I saw as a child,
how I was interpreted as a child
How is perception punished, when was it designed?
My mind was made up for me
before me
And countless others
Again tore from the breast,
left emotionally naked and afraid
Forgave/forgiven by many
Including the parents of my victim
But the system,
the ones convicting,
Are sentencing us to death by way of prison
Listen, if you reposition slavery
this cell is what it was made to be
Faithfully speaking…I’m reaching
Bottom of all life supporting categories
Worst grade of food
Treatment less than that of a stray animal,
beyond rude and disrespectful
Imagine if you will,
not being told,
but shown
your life means nothing
and believing it
Allowing it to enter your spirit
How do you clear it? (the mind)
Who will hear my voice?
Acknowledge my choice to know
my life means everything
and reach for me?
Find me included mentally, unconfined
Defined, not by my past
Unlimited in my potential
Endless in my pursuit of a chance
To live life
***
From Inside/Within
Dear Martin Luther King Jr.,
We still dreaming, some lost in it
But many who don’t even understand it,
we’re further behind because our minds
fail to comprehend unity
We can vote,
but coping seems to weight heavy on our hearts
hoping we pick the lesser of the two evils
Inconceivable, there are many ways in which we still suffer
We’re tough on each other
But can’t muster the courage to fight a system that continues to prove our lives have
no real value
I once was guilty of such
but the clutch of the beast
and the sinking of teeth into my flesh
was at best a wake up call
I haven’t seen it all,
but I’ve seen enough
Enough to share your dream
I mean, instead of water hoses we’re getting gunned down in the streets by those
entrusted to protect and serve
Plantations have transformed into prisons,
where we are housed in conditions inhumane, our names became numbers
Seperated from our families abused and mistreated badly
Most driven to insanity, drawing the conclusion that the illusion they create of freedom is just that!!!
In fact, so deplorable is our state ingornable has become normal
All of which I hate to inform you
Rest assured that those who have not been bought,
continue to teach and be taught by your walk
Grateful for your example!!!