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Prose of a Con

Poetry and Prose by Russell Wardlow

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Culture

Ebony Overtime

July 3, 2020 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

Black women have it the baddest
on average
they bend backwards
working 226 days added
to equal the average
white man’s salary without the status
while their ebony magic-
talk, dance, shape and style is sold to the masses

Filed Under: Culture

If Black Lives Matter

July 1, 2020 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

IF
BLACK LIVES MATTER
then WHY
after flashing lights
does a BLACK LIFE
FLATLINE AFTER?

IF
BLACK LIVES MATTER
then WHYYYY
after flashing lights
does a BLACK LIFE
FLATLINE AFTER?

IIIIFFFF!
BLACK LIVES MATTER
THEN WHY
AFTER FLASHING LIGHTS
MUST A BLACK LIFE
FLATLINE AFTER?!

Filed Under: Culture, Trauma

Newfoundland

June 30, 2020 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

ashamed
because I tried to be
‘white’
at my best moments
then by default
‘black’
at my worst
ashamed
because I aspired
to be like white people
ashamed
because I aspired
to escape being a black man
lost
because when I hurt
nobody white understands me
some things only black people could understand
lost
because when I hurt
I feel black
only we, understand us
angry
because this world
influenced me to trust white people
more than my own people
happy
because I’m black at my best
and only getting better
because finally
I love my. black. self.

Filed Under: Culture, Love, Trauma

occupied freedom

June 29, 2020 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

there has been casualties
and fatalities
because this occupied illusive reality
was founded and liberated upon sustained brutalities
and pie in the sky fallacies
without consistent generational challenging
racism is likened to America’s first and longest lasting allergy
and its impact varies based on your color and salary

Filed Under: Culture, Mercy, Trauma

sadomasochists

June 28, 2020 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

America
People
why does it take inflicting pain
to stop you from inflicting pain
why does it take inflicting pain
to change the inflicted pain
and heal, the afflicted pain
or does it just feel too good to you

Filed Under: Culture, Mercy, Trauma

the chemistry of change

June 27, 2020 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

chemistry has three descriptions
liquid
solid
and gas
change is also a science
but in order for it to be lasting
as a liquid-
it must be ever changeable in the way that it adapts to whatever environment it exists within
as a solid-
it must be formidable and sure, absolute and objective in its resolutions and foundations as common ground, so it can be cohabited and lived upon
as a gas-
it must be colorless and for all anywhere equally, seen but unseen, physically indescribable in that it is transparent and honest

Filed Under: Culture, Spirit

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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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