Inmate Poetry
from the Prison Light Project
Save MeWrite to: Matthew Weier #6110506
Newton Corr. Facility 307 S. 60th Ave., W. POB 218, Newton, IA 50208 Running away, Scared to tell The truth about my true feelings, And not knowing what to do Anymore. Mom is still struggling with her treatment, My actual family not here with me, Still grieving over my dog Max, Being hurt from others I thought love and care for me. Please save me. Am I a good person? Or not? From all of this, I'm starting to rot Like an older tree Slowly dying Without even trying. Please save me. My heart is so small Crying for help Curled up in a little ball. Save me from all my enemies, Since they are after me With their own supremes. Save me from myself With a heartless soul, Burning on the inside With no delays. Save me from my thoughts, Before I snap out And put you on the mount For show bizz. Save me from my actions Before you get the barbed wire, And light show So you won't be able to go. Save me from everyone, Before I go in my own grave. And make me become brave. Save me from everything, Before time runs out When I bring my shout. Has anyone walked with the devil Under the midnight light, No? Well it's time to go night, night. Hurry up, I need to be saved From this horrible drug. Maybe there is someone out there That can save me.... I'm starting to calm down Like the horrid storm Going away from the little town. What's happening to me? I feel like a balloon Floating upwards In the beautiful air Over the fun little fair. Will you still be there For me? Or will it be done? You were the only one Who saved me, And I don't want it to be done. You made me the happiest, Most valuable man in my own Life. You gave me courage To change to be loved, And to be proud Without getting shoved. When I fall down You pick me up With love and care. I know I'm codependent With this by not losing you, I love you with all my heart. There's nothing that's going to change it Not even a bit. You made me bring my Leo side out That I couldn't do myself. Now I don't wander about, Because in my head, I shout, "THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME!" Everything you say, do for me, I get speechless, Because I've never had anything Like this in my life before. My heart started to grow With tears coming out. Are these sad tears, Or happy tears? You tell me, Because I want to Look deeply into your eyes With the right ties, By saying to you... I love you. Thank you for saving me. |
Prison Lifewrite to: Zack Cansdale #6821994
Newton Corr. Facility 307 S. 60th Ave., W. POB 218, Newton, IA 50208 It's waiting on letters when you're doing time,
Your family won't write or send you a dime. Waiting on visits that never take place, From loved ones or friends who've forgotten your face. It's hearing them lie and that they're trying, Making promises, you know they are lying. Making plans with someone you thought you knew, Their plans suddenly change, they don't include you. It's hearing them promise, it goes to your head, And when push comes to shove, they leave you for dead. It's feelings of love, honor and pride, Pain & emotions, you're hurting inside. You express yourself to loved ones and friends, But they can't feel your pain 'cause you're in the pen. It's calling and hearing a block on their phone, You will maintain, 'cause life still goes on. It's hearing them say how much they care, And in your time of need, are never there. It's really messed up when you're doing time, But that's "Prison Life," Outta sight, Outta mind. Clouds in a Boundless Skywrite to: Zack Cansdale #6821994
Newton Corr. Facility 307 S. 60th Ave., W. POB 218, Newton, IA 50208 Clouds in a boundless sky,
They all tell a tale. Watching as they're passing by, As I walk the trail. Clouds in a boundless sky, Tell me what you see. Go ahead. Give it a try, What is your story? Clouds in a boundless sky, Then it starts to rain. You stay in where it's dry, While flooded streets remain. Clouds in a boundless sky, Moving oh so fast. Shifting right before my eyes, With memories sure to less. A New Manwrite to: Zack Cansdale #6821994
Newton Corr. Facility 307 S. 60th Ave., W. POB 218, Newton, IA 50208 Today I'm a new man,
I've changed my life around. Asked the Lord to lend a hand, To help me stand my ground. Everything has a meaning, Whether we win or lose. Time for a new beginning, Which road will you choose? For he answers my prayers, And then he said to me, "I am the one who cares, "As long as you believe." To show his love and all he does, He freed us from sin. Knowing that he died for us, He remains within. My Lifewrite to: Zack Cansdale #6821994
Newton Corr. Facility 307 S. 60th Ave., W. POB 218, Newton, IA 50208 This is my life,
Some things have changed. Living with everyday strife, Things God has arranged. This is my life, Time to move forward. A battle we must fight, God lend me your sword. This is my life, I give it to you. Life can be a sacrifice, That you will guide me through. This is my life, And who I am today. The old me is left behind, Living it God's way. Road to Nowherewrite to: Zack Cansdale #6821994
Newton Corr. Facility 307 S. 60th Ave., W. POB 218, Newton, IA 50208 It's hard to stay in touch with my inner dreams, And block out the voices and horrifying screams. Echoing in my mind telling me to escape, To a world where everyone and everything is fake. Including feelings and the dreams I chased, Having memories of years gone to waste. Bottled up feelings and blocking out pain, Noticing sunshine, ignore the rain. Fooled into believing things are just fine, And everyone's lives as carefree as mine. Even the pain gets bottled up inside, Slowly eating at my morals and pride. Seeing what I'm doing and the need for change, Yet stopping can be both scary and strange. Knowing it's for the best, it needs to be done, Life's more than parties and having fun. My future meant nothing, I lived for each day, Rebelling against my family, and what they'd say. Thinking I knew it all and that I was cool, Now looking at the past, is the life of a fool. Repeating this pattern, more than you know, The price I am paying, is starting to show. I am not proud of the road that I took, The lesson I've learned isn't found in a book. Now that I'm older, I still hear that voice, Difference is that I've made my choice. I've lost all control, keep one thing in mind, The direction I took, you'd swear I was blind. Leading to nowhere, I've learned firsthand, That the direction I traveled is not what I planned. ScarsScars on top of scars outside my skin,
Memories of the past I hold within. Locking it away, so the pain stays in. Don't know where to stop, or to begin. Scars on top of scars, inside and out, Tell me what you see, The once-forgotten pain you forgot about, Or the person whom I try to be? Scars upon scars, where do I start? Shattered feelings, like falling apart, Go by, but now they have stopped, Old friends, and new, the sadness has dropped. Scars upon scars, I once tried to hide, Inside and out, and playing the part. Scars we can't see, of a shattered heart. To wash away the pain, that once stuck inside. The Need is Very Real The Land of the Free accounts for 5% of the world's population but 25% of its incarcerated persons.
This is absolutely disgraceful. This rise in prison population is not due to Americans becoming more unlawful. Rather, it stems from mandatory sentencing, unaffordable bail, and for-profit prison corporations that maximize their bottom lines by maximizing their inmate populations. The Prison Light Project supports policy changes that would reverse this trend, but we are not foolish enough to believe that we alone can change the situation. What we can do, and are doing, is to make the lives of inmates more humane by providing -- with your help -- meaningful reading materials to them. Every day we receive heartfelt requests from inmates across our land — men, women, young and old, all races — asking us to shine some light into their darkness. We have books to send, and we try our best, but we cannot afford all the postage and packaging on our own. We need your help. Please donate and ask your friends to help, too. |
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