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Prose of a Con

Poetry and Prose by Russell Wardlow

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Jefferson’s Reflection

May 10, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

reflecting on priorities
they evolve
but rarely change
constituting priorities
starting with article 1
implementing priorities
written in section 2
compromising priorities
black’s shall be 3/5th’s a person
results of priorities
property owned and named
at the beginning,
justifying the means-
identity and self-determination lost-
in the end
priorities of a constitution
stated before the bill of rights
which govern,
and promises our lived experience
so when you say,
“the founding fathers”
for some reason
I don’t feel like a loved child
rather a step child
a bastard
or one spawn of wedlock
or tryst
but I should love this document so
this parchment you deem too holy to change wholly
to which one of it’s writers said
“I tremble for my country, when I reflect that God is just…”
I am not lawless
my being had to be rewritten into law
from those above the law
I am outside of the law
rebelling from my in laws
so when I loot riot and protest
I’m just expressing your projections
imitating you
mirrored reflections and sentiments
spawn of you
claiming this land
renaming it
once stolen pillaged and plundered
but what goes around…
as they say
And, they say
“God is good,
All the time”
so let the church say…
well yaw know

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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