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Prose of a Con

Poetry and Prose by Russell Wardlow

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Trauma

Mirror, Mirror

August 25, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

Look me in the eyes 
You act like you strong 

But you know that you weak, 

Your body will fold

You’re showing fatigue 

Your conscience is toxic 

Like a cobra that speaks

Be honest and stop it 

Your hopes are too bleak

What do you see

It can’t be yourself 

Don’t break your reflection 

Keep your hands to yourself 

You don’t deserve a chance and the plans 

You demand, you damaged yourself 

You’re less of a man

Seeking what isn’t yours 

Paradoxically time has a limit

Your life is seepin’ through bleeding pores

Every wave is antagonistic to a cast away

Keeping you from reachin shores 

Every goal is a hurdle 

And I’m that obstacle keeping you from reaching yours

Every day is a new disguise 

A new disgust you’ve never seen before 

You’ve never had it all together 

Look me in the eyes inside of the shattered pieces on the floor.

Filed Under: Love, Mercy, Spirit, Trauma

Happy Birthday Trey, part 2

August 16, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

I wish we could talk just today

But your mom just hung up the phone

I didn’t know what to say

So I just hummed all alone

I kept the phone to my ear

I admit I was hurt

The silent tone was too clear

She made it all about her

I made mistakes, I’m not perfect

That’s why I’m not at home with ya

But she tries to hurt me on purpose

So I’m left lookin at pictures

She loves the power she has

To accept or deny

But Trey, I’m forever your dad

And son, grown men cry

If you ever feel empty

Don’t turn it to hate

Because that turns into envy

And love is too great

I’m not there like I want

But I’ll still grow and be better

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TREY

Hope you get my card and my letter

Filed Under: Inside, Love, Spirit, Trauma

Woeman

August 14, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

I see the ache, the pain 

In your face you try to erase 

With make up – 

The things in your way

That you embrace and take everyday

After you wake up

Filed Under: Culture, Trauma

Blue-My-Life

August 14, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

Blue – my – life,

My – skies, my – mind

Oh- My – God

My- word, my – tongue tied

Seen the truth-

behind the things I used to view as lies

Scenic view-

Behind the things I used to use to hide

Kinda this- kinda that

Connoisseur – of all kinds of things

now time for this- my crime was that

But I’m doing time for all kinds of things.

Filed Under: Inside, Mercy, Trauma

Phantom

August 14, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

Run away from the light

Lock me safe in the dark

Fall in love with my lies

Don’t pick my truth apart

You won’t like what you see

And I tend to agree

I don’t pretend to be me

Every second I flee

I want to blend with the breeze

But I end up debris…

 

Filed Under: Love, Trauma

Succubus

August 14, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

Hurt- people, hurt people

But you said I made you feel good-

You’re so cerebral, so evil

I succumbed to the pain in knowledge once I’ve understood

You’re so lethal, a sewing needle

You reap what you sew, or soe, but so…

You’re so ego, your soul leaves you

but yet I’m still there in tow.

 

Filed Under: Love, 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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