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Prose of a Con

Poetry and Prose by Russell Wardlow

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Scribing My Pulse

April 8, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

even as I have lost luster for life
my nerves being chilled to ice
still, I write
I write, still
as emotions have vanquished in the face of agony
rendering me a gaping void of apathy
still, I write
I write, still
when there appears to be no escape from abyss
and into the sullen darkness I drift
still, I write
I write, still
the pain in my heart as sharp as a knife
being pulled out, and driven into my side
still, I write
I write, still
writing is my pulse
when the very words I poach
as speech has croaked
and my saliva as thick as pulp
forming lumps in my throat
swallowing each moment that I choke
flared nostrils exhaling smoke
still, I write
I write, still
otherwise, this would be murder unwrote
as any lack of writing, would be as a gyrote
this would be murder unwritten
for the failure to form a sentence
this would be murder unscripted
letting the venom navigate a circulatory system snakebitten
this would be good riddance
as I failed to prevent my own ending
but still, I write
I write, still
so that presumptive storyline is fiction
and my narrative is still being written
therefore I write my redemption
end scene, as the backdrop cascades in crimson

Filed Under: Trauma

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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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