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Prose of a Con

Poetry and Prose by Russell Wardlow

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Mercy

20/20

September 1, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

it’s the mistakes
which broke us
then brought other
things, people, places
together
now bound to us
individually
but are we yet healed
in these new opened
circles?
I’ve carried you
with me still,
I feel you may have
done the same.
unknowing
in some ways
it is a mistake, still
unintended
old scars, new wounds-
blended
but it bears purpose,
behold it
what I’m saying is
I can see now,
it all worked out
perfectly
but hindsight is

Filed Under: Love, Mercy

Let

September 1, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

I still can learn a lesson
in loving without attachment
accepting and letting be
what is, without imposing my will
observing without judgment
and listening
while being, still

Filed Under: Mercy

With Without

September 1, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

I can be
without ‘with’

be, can I
with without?

yes!
born abundant

Filed Under: Mercy, Spirit

Message to Seekers

September 1, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

please do not open coffins
if you can not handle the sacred remains,
chant the words of power
initiate the rituals
pour the libations
invoke the ancestors
regard their wisdoms
uphold the rites of passage
and decipher the worshipping ways of the ancients
because a gift will become a curse
the cycle of life
will take the appearance of death
becoming scorned and feared
misunderstanding sacrifice
you will not make requisite offerings
as much as you will create offense
excavating wisdoms
uttering them without understanding,
for the title of ‘knower’ and most enlightened
creating separation of divine wholes
inventing forms where form hath not exist
believing you have saved and discovered something
while impure conquests has truly preserved
what has now become tarnished
and the temple will live on desecrated
tales made of truths
in forms that now confuse and subjugate
provoking constant states of fear,
war and lost identity
where dominion over the dominated
and unlearned, reigns
because truth has become owned
for namesake
but reciprocity,
is divine law!

Filed Under: Mercy, Spirit

Mercy

September 1, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

I have to learn to give mercy
even at times when
the lack of mercy
feels more convenient
and necessary
per animal inclinations
but the mercy I give
allows my spirit to give
otherwise I will become
more animal than human
instinctively desiring to
out animal the next
and my purpose goes beyond
chest-beating and pissing contests
I choose to live liberated
not in a perpetual state
of ”trying to survive”
in the image of a hamster
running inside of a wheel

Filed Under: Mercy

Air Flow

September 1, 2021 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

just breathe
mindfully
too much wind
will make a tornado of earth
a hurricane of water
and drive a fire wild

Filed Under: 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.

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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