by redclay | Sep 3, 2021 | Detention Center Writing Contests, fiction, Poetry
by Jerrell Copeland
Poetry, Heard/Arlington County Detention Facility/OAR writing contest, August 2021
As the soul cries
within the eyes
that look through the windowpane
enslaved caged thoughts think freedom really bring better days.
To be the answer or not to be
the easy way distracts one from the question.
Helpless, time comes and tosses
those whom are doomed not to elude the catcher.
Free dumb taught by the Master
sale the Black
you know what comes after.
Father time fatherless to my kind oh what a disaster,
for he runs out not to teach the seconds that passes.
As the clock watches hour tic toc vanish
the minute we find happiness it’s banished.
Behind barbwire fences concrete cinder blocks steal bars
and doors that are locked where our loves eventually love another
brothers forget brothers and the hearts torn,
punish, crushed belong to our dear mothers.
This is Black reality
the dark life savagery
its cold in that hole where we go,
so sad to me.
Our pupils envision this is how it has to be.
23 and 1 hour or Sun do what’s right so you don’t have to live like this please.
I beg you to listen so that you may gain understanding and take heed,
a wiseman had a nightmare revealing a ghost dream.
There was a beast called the system
an vicious organism
that couldn’t exist without cells.
Have you heard of it?
It’s Jail.
Unmeasurable in size
it resides wherever there’s a mind,
even in front of our own eyes
we see it not trying to hide
by redclay | Sep 3, 2021 | Detention Center Writing Contests, fiction, Poetry
by Bianca Jones
Third place, Poetry, Heard/Arlington County Detention Facility/OAR writing contest, August 2021
I been through so much
Trying to be grown, and make up time of being alone
Having a child at 17, when I barely know whats in between
Trying to fit in, trying to be perfect
But was afraid to ask God am I worth it
18 back in forth to jail
I felt like my life was nothing but Hell
19 I was out in about trying to figure things out
People, Family the ones I thought was my friends
Was quick to judge but yet commit the same sins
Everyone thinking they are better than me
Because of my skin or due to them having a degree
22. I stepped to the late, doing what best before its to late
2 young sons, I had to do what I could to maintain my funds
People would laugh, people would joke
but I could care less I had to much hope
Everyday I did what I did
by 25 I was on my 3rd kid
It was never a struggle after 25,
I did what I could to keep me and my kids alive
26 back in jail,
I felt like my life was meant for me to fail
A year later, my life got straighter
finishing college, gaining more knowledge
keeping my life together making it solid
Jail has taught me a lesson
that to always count your blessings
take advantage of the things you have
God will never let the devil in your path
Now I look at life, in talk with a laugh
because I wouldn’t be great if it wasn’t for my past
A brighter smile,
A brighter me
My 3 sons made the best of me
Now I’m stronger
Now I’m wiser
I have always been a fighter
I missed some shots, but caught my rebound
And Guess what…
You could NEVER BREAK ME DOWN!
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