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Prose of a Con

Poetry and Prose by Russell Wardlow

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Mental Warfare

June 3, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

I ran into a barrier of some sort
falling down from the brunt impact
surprise and pain blended like a cocktail
by cause of reflex, I began rubbing at my smarting forehead
as if checking to see if it was still intact
composure slightly regained
and the ebb of collision waning
I began looking up, to my surprise
there was nothing there, but air
after standing up,
I walked towards the former point of impact
reaching out, unsure now
as if a perfectly clean glass sliding door faced me
and I an unknowing bird
insecure by the lesson learned,
of blunt impact
I couldn’t proceed any further
unable to feel a barrier, but my body just stopped
as others looked at me confused, obviously
they walked with ease beyond where I had been stuck
I then became a spectacle, and fears became realized
as what lied in front of me came into view
I was unable to get myself to step foot in the parking lot of my freedom
from beyond this prison structure
see, I was just recently released, so to speak
I was free
but my mind wasn’t
and my imprisoned mind wouldn’t allow me to gather or proceed
any further
until I released it as well
fear was my first prison
and the longest lasting one
what is freedom with fear, but a cycle
and my yesterdays were doomed to repeat themselves
for the first time, I’ll say it out loud
I’m ready freedom, release me fear
I don’t need you holding me back any further
there is much to more ahead to gain
with this new confidence awareness and drive,
I stepped foot in the parking lot
and the rest, will be history

Filed Under: Inside, Mercy, Spirit, 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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  • Objects June 30, 2022
  • Same Thang, Different Name June 30, 2022
  • Optical Ill-lusions June 30, 2022
  • Hollow Symbols June 30, 2022

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