DONT SPEAK UNTIL
Do You Wish Love Was Fair
ME. Strong. Power
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!
My Block
by Leonardo Antonio Reyes
Second place, Poetry, Heard/Arlington County Detention Facility/OAR writing contest, August 2021
It’s crazy the type of stuff you see on
My block
Kids barely 13 selling bags of that rock
Violence out of control, younger and younger,
bodies drop
Its crazy the stuff that you see
on my block
Young women corrupted selling they soul
For what they think is a lot
People glorifying the streets thinking its
something its not
Let me tell you right now
selling dope ain’t the only way to get to
the top
But we so messed up we think its
all that we got
No role models so we looked up to
that knot
We played games with our lives, our
fun was ducking cops
Slowly but surely our lives go down the
drain
Start getting locked up, start going insane
But this could be a blessing long as you
maintain
Stay off them drugs, start stimulating
your brain
Start realizing there’s another way out
Got that legal money, don’t have to
Worry ‘bout a drought
Do right by your family and right by
your kids
Show ‘em its more to life than
Selling drugs and doing bids
From the Alexandria Gazette Packet – Voices to be Heard
“We are extremely grateful for Heard’s continued outreach and engagement with those in our custody.”
— Sheriff Dana Lawhorne
And we are grateful to the Alexandria Gazette Packet for promoting the winners of our writing contest with the Alexandria Adult Detention Center. You are always so supportive of our work! Btw, did you know that you made Mr. Pixley and Mr. Talbert’s day? They were each given a copy of your article and were sooooo happy! Thank you for allowing them to be heard! Scroll down to page 7 to see our winners or read it here:
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