City of Alexandria website, September 3, 2023: Thank you, City of Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, for mentioning and including our Heard writing contest during your ceremony where you recognized your incarcerated for their educational, professional, and personal achievements. The entire article is here.
Photo courtesy of the City of Alexandria Sheriff Department.
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by Letecia Burch
First place winner, Fiction, Arlington County Detention Facility/Heard/OAR writing contest, August 2022
I grew up with a woman who inhabited a different world
from the loving carefree mothers of my friends.
Not saying she didn’t love me.
She showed it in a different way.
I had more of a friend than a mother
I couldn’t tell them apart
and definitely didn’t know where to start.
My mothers feelings were like intense colors—
fiery reds, soft pinks, earthy greens and the deepest slate gray.
Why should I write of teardrops falling
if your no longer there to wipe them away.
Silently obscuring the timeless tells that follow.
Who’s fingers traced the outline of my face
when I cried tears of sorrow
not knowing I’m on borrowed time.
Soon youd leave and this time I cant call or follow
for a beautiful soul who would never come back
I try and catch my breath
when I feel the panic attack.
It might be quicker and silent to sink into quicksand
to disappear beneath its surface
I’ve always thought and been told
pick your head up you have a purpose
It’d be so much easier to just let go but I cant
because of not the chance of seeing her again
is so clear seeing the pearly white gates of heaven
I can’t wait to be with you again.
In art class they taught us that sunlight contains all the colors of the rainbow.
You were my sunlight.
You taught me how to find a rainbow.
You’ll forever be in my heart.
What Goes on at the County Jail
by Bullard
Third place winner, Fiction, Arlington County Detention Facility/Heard/OAR writing contest, August 2022
While the frail
Complain that the milk is spoiled
And the bread is way too stale
Mail is also being pass-out like a
Hygiene kit
To all those
I suppose
That is willing to use it
Everybody knows that a shower
Can devour
Dirt
Along with the help of some soap
It shouldn’t hurt
What about the insane
Thought of having a smelly celly
The type that lies thru his teeth
Even on the tele
One of the reasons why….
Especially
Since there are those that want to
Abuse
To a fuse
To a nice nurse
That’ll come to your aid
With a bottle of Gatorade
All the way to the county jail
Where the “fresh flavor”
Is a savior
Similar to what spinach does for
Popeye the sailor
Some may feel as if they’re in
“Hot Water”
And no Im not talking about the kind
That boil
And say to all that red
And
Have a nice day
50 shades of a darker gray.
Public Command’s All Street’s Donational’s De-Man-da-Ment’$
by Christ Joshua M. Fletcher
Fiction/Arlington County Detention Facility/Heard/OAR writing contest, August 2022
If ¢aught by Christ Jo$hua, thy man of your lord GOD. It will be a $ame day fine of $300.00 or a ¢itizen arre$tment will be made.
If, heared out in publi¢ the letter$ O.M.G. or name ¢alled in vain, Chri$t Jo$hua or not ¢alled to be needed a $500. to $1,000 fine of $ame day need’$ to be paid in full.
When you lie to thy $elf & lie in the pre$ant’s of your lord & $avior for not #01 Perfect rea$on a $250. to $500 fine $ame day payment in full.
When Chri$t Jo$hua walks up & a $moke $e$$on i$ going, just contribute for Native ¢ause. If not $175 to $300 in ful ¢ash & along w/your $moke. Plu$ if not are$t will be citizen reque$t per weak will be made!! HA HA HA
If caught $elling Native tree’$ to the young youth and not age 18 & older, All tree’$ will be taken on $pot w/arre$tment being made, Plu$ $ame day payment’$ of $1,000.
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