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Prose of a Con

Poetry and Prose by Russell Wardlow

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Can I Live?

April 4, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

Sarah Grimke said,
I ask no favor for my sex,
all I ask from our brethren,
is that they take their feet off our necks

what she was asking was, “can we live?”
what she was demanding was, “let us live”

WayOfLife says,
I ask no handicap for my color
all I ask from my country
is that you release the leash from our neck
because every time we progress, we get whiplash

what I’m asking is, “can we live?”

although I have not met a traditional slave
every time I see my people
I view generational lashes that are still present today
and in denial, we cope, and call them birthmarks
but my mirror doesn’t lie, I know just what these scars represent

now, what I’m demanding is that you let me live
because I know how not to
and if you allow me to choose on the manner of which I do so,
since you want to control the manner of how I live,
then I will not be the only one to suffer for my long overdue peace
I refuse to sit back, passive and in fear of fighting for my freedom
I was born in, and to, captivity
but my spirit, nor my body, will continue to live, and die, in captivity

now let me, us, we, all LIVE!

Filed Under: Culture, Inside

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Prose of a Con

Prose of a Con is a collection of Russell Wardlow’s prose and poetry written entirely behind bars. Through writings on family, spirituality, freedom, love, justice, redemption, and vulnerability, Russell seeks to show the humanity and hope of individuals like himself who are incarcerated.

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