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Prose of a Con

Poetry and Prose by Russell Wardlow

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Too Late for a Job Well Done

April 23, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

it’s not that the shooting wasn’t justified
it’s the many times we’ve heard a mother’s cries
because of an unjustified
police homicide
to which we are accustom
because policing on the other side
wears a custom size
and those disparities and biases come to life
then come to mind
when another dies
making justice seem to mean, some must die
and in this case
even if to save one, one must die
BUT
there’s too been too many times
premature death perpetrated by blue lives
onto black lives
more so than
most other lives
I am not keeping score,
rather
I am cutting ties-
with keeping an objective mind
because
we continue to get objectified
as our rights go unexercised
and those wrongs…
and this generational,
modern
and momentary trauma…
will take centuries to rectify
shit, speaking plainly-
adding another black death by a cop
just hits somewhere too deep to specify
as trust has long since been jeopardized
because its the system,
not just policing-
that has been overly weaponized
then silence over accountability
and denial
keeps our experience from being recognized
making it hard to believe your eyes
but
believe your eyes
as ours flood with pain
indicating that we need to rise
because the frequency restricts a peace of mind
and as far as heart
each lost
strips a piece of mine
yea, you saved a life
and though I’m grateful
it’s what you’re paid to, right?
as I still ponder how many more will it take-
after how many of us have been taken
as if we’ve waived our rights-
for this country,
to make it right?

Filed Under: Culture, 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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