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Prose of a Con

Poetry and Prose by Russell Wardlow

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I Would Like to Smile

April 22, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

I want to smile
in fact
I love to smile
universe willing,
I think I shall have several smiles today
and so I turn on my TV
I happen upon the Chauvin trial
impossible to crack a smile
constant replaying of a man’s death
to win an officers trial
yes,
verily much much too hard to smile
I turn the channel
and I see the killing of a child
mass shootings all around
the border adorning an overbearing crowd
that have walked for miles
nationwide protests and riots abound
failed inoculations
recalled vaccinations
fear of vaccinations
not enough vaccinated
voter restrictions legislated
broken wedding vows
oh, how can I ever smile?
turning off the TV now
glancing around
I spy drug addiction-
narcotic and prescription
I hear insults
my nerves onslaught-ed with tension
inhaling smoke
tasting the odorous polluted air
still, I can not smile
so I peak out of my window
I spy hopelessness
spiritually exempt bodies
walking in circles
repeating the same cycles
around and around
and around
even amongst the lush majesty of nature
I see it tormented by our treatment
the world today,
has only given me reasons to frown
even reasons to weep
so I close my eyes
to set my spirit mind and heart at ease
hoping to experience a sense of peace
and dreamed,
that I smiled deep in my sleep

Filed Under: Culture, Inside, 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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