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Prose of a Con

Poetry and Prose by Russell Wardlow

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Russell Wardlow

Kaep-italizing

March 5, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

Capitol says more to me than a state’s highest city, but the many unheralded and unappreciated smaller ones that surround it

Capital says more to me than bigger letters, but greater-thans and less-thans, possessions, and how this country was founded

Cap says more to me about power, privilege, and imposed limits protecting position and property over people

Capitulation says more to me about domination and enforced conformity and liberalism being evil

Capitalizing says more to me about kicking dead horses and exploiting the weak, profiteering at all levels and getting ahead at all costs
symbolized by old nooses

because the truth is

Capitalism says more to me than a competitive economic institution,
it’s a consciousness that paves ways for many intended and unintended humanity abuses

therefore, Kaepernick, says more to me about the truth and how capitalism has no time to change its view, therefore, most time, hope seems useless

Filed Under: Culture

American Chess

March 5, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

The rules: Civil Savagery
If Black and White are the sides, then Color is the battle
If Placement inherits Power, then Opportunity is the board
If Geography dictates Destiny, then Class are the squares
now we can start:
Morality is the Pawns
Values are Knights
Perception is the Castles
Perspective is the Bishops
Privilege is the Queen
now choose between these interchanging three
Money, Might, or White is King

Filed Under: Culture

Omens

March 4, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

wolf
howling in the distance
conceding an omen
a pile of bones
left in my closet
I’m sending to storage
pandemics,
paradoxes,
and paranormal portraits
swinging
on my leaning walls
coming in and out of focus
secrets
being whispered within the wind
’til I feel the breeze
life forces
life pushes
me down to my knees
only for me to understand
something deeper
than the height at which I stand

Filed Under: Mercy, Spirit, Trauma

Om Mani Padme Hum

March 4, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

I pray for you
restoration and peace
wholeness and depth
sovereignty and longevity
liberty and liberation
joy and justice
growth and gain
resilience and perseverance
discernment and distinction
patience and progress
balance and foundation
goodness and calm abiding
healing and strength
wisdom and compassion
light and weightlessness
empowerment and enlightenment
air and water
wind and earth
sun and moon
necessity and nourishment
humility and honor
grace and gratitude
providence and provision
love and life
faith and fortune
warmth and safety
house and home
being and bounty
Om Mani Padme Hum
I Love You World
I Love Its Creatures
I Love You People
I Love Your Differences
I Love You Self
and All You Are Becoming

Filed Under: Spirit

Late Night Riffs

March 3, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

delusions of a new life
cruising in the moon light
communing ’til the mood right
amusing viewing two sides
split in two’s like tonight
dim the hue and lose sight
or perusing when it’s too bright
only few will view life
lonely view but true light
when its only two like shoes tied!

Filed Under: Inside

Even Still

March 3, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

I can’t swim
but I’d jump in a body of water with you
I trust you
more than I fear my possible ending
isn’t that love?
is that enough?
or does all love come with gifts of roses
possession
and expected sex
if so,
there’s so much to go around
and judging my history,
I have much to give
because I’ve shared love every time I could
it was the only way I knew
mimicking myself in relationships
as if I stood before a mirror
although I’m less convinced there’s a “one and only”
for I, or any
but even still,
you’re the only one

Filed Under: Love

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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.

Read More

  • Whose Mind is it Anyway June 30, 2022
  • 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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