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Prose of a Con

Poetry and Prose by Russell Wardlow

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Inside

Fall

November 24, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

If I fall, would you fall with me

Would you believe, that we

Would fall in leaves..or fall in love

Would you fear that plummet into the unknown

The rustling sounds in a pile of change

Inside the symbolic nature of autumn leaves

Growth, change, evolution, resurrection

I call it life, I call it love

Not leaves

Are you caught between

The choice of freefalling into uncertainty

Versus trusting the strength of your own two legs

That never fail to stand tall

Yet you stand alone

Above the leaves like a barren tree

So if I fall

Will you fall With me?

Filed Under: Culture, Inside, Spirit

Change?

November 24, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

How can a man change

or not stay the same

When he can’t realize he is in a constant state of change

Adapting to a reality that forces him to stay the same

Numb his pain, number his name, become insane

All the while asking him-to-change.

Filed Under: Culture, Inside, Trauma

I’m not crazy…

November 24, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

I’m not crazy, I just don’t conform

to societal norms

I’m anything but uniform

I’m everything but uninformed

I’m not crazy, you just hide yourself

in spite yourself

You fight what’s inside yourself

You probably don’t drink because you wouldnt think, and that would remind yourself

I’m not crazy, I’m just too sane

Denial is using two brains

You may as well use two names

You can tie your shoes but your screws are loose and you are too vane

I’m not crazy, I just admit I’m different

I don’t keep the mirror distant

I’m too old for fiction, I try to stay consistent

being normal is a contradiction

A baby, born in the haze of the shading phasing fading crazy late 80’s

A diamond never erodes

He took a walk on every road

Spoke from a tongue to which he never holds-

Back, moving toward a blind fate that forever beholds

Creativity, individualism, indifference, unique

black swan, black sheep, black diamond mystique

I’m not crazy, I’m just comfortable standing alone on my own two feet

You’re not crazy if you agree, and feel just like me

but I’m crazy…

Filed Under: Culture, Inside, Spirit

For My Life

September 13, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

Prison was punishment

but I can’t stomach it

They put a price on my life

I gotta fight for my life

I broke my left after a right

They rollin’ dice on my life

Lions eat mice in this life

I need a knife for my life

Cuz they’ll stick a knife in my life

Might have to take a life for my life

And I might get life for that life

A lot in my eyes that I hide

Say I’m alright but I lie

Cuz I have a fight, I have pride

On borrowed time while inside

How much time til outside

My neighbor just lost his life

Before he made it outside

Everyday will I see night

Every night will I see light

I thought time had paid that price

But that price could be my life.

Filed Under: Inside, Mercy, Spirit, Trauma

Hurts Good

September 13, 2017 by Russell Wardlow 1 Comment

I ran away from pleasure

and embraced the pain

to which became her name –

love hurts – but I love hurt

and I love hers – because I love her….

pain

Filed Under: Inside, Love, Trauma

Sunshine

September 13, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

My sunshine, is my son’s smiling

My sunshine, is answered calls when I’m dialing

My sunshine, is pictures sent with letters

My sunshine, has no bearing with the weather

My sunshine, is visitations

My sunshine, is freedom, the prize of patience

My sunshine, not a star but a part of matter

My sunshine, is mattering to those that matter

My sunshine, is every time I can smile

As time eclipses, I notice I haven’t felt my sunshine in a while.

Filed Under: Inside, Love, Mercy, 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.

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