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Prose of a Con

Poetry and Prose by Russell Wardlow

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Trauma

Agonize

August 13, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

Woe, to the misery sang in soliloquys

Vanity…a dead rose to expose emotional fragility

Ironic – hurt feelings from losing touch

When reality becomes -numb-from-going through so much.

Filed Under: Culture, Trauma

Regrets

August 13, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

I wonder if she knows what she lost, now that she left

I know now what I’ve gained, now that I’ve lost

Now that I’m lost

Caught in the fog

I smell the exhaust

Coughin’, coffin?

Caught in-

Between overly cautious

And dauntless

Hostile or hostage

Sweat fills my arm pits

But now, the street a carpet

I need a seat belt harness

With every step I’m carsick

The road is my home

To view to experience – there’s so much now I know

Green light – I found my drive, I had to let her go

But I wonder if she’ll ever know…

Filed Under: Culture, Inside, Love, Mercy, Trauma

Hey You

August 12, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

Hey you out there, what’s on your mind? Is it curiosity, adventure or sincerity? Bored in your own world with an interest in the taboo or sypathetically seeking an understanding and compassion of something beyond yourself and own experience/understanding. Do you pity me or comforted by my pain, possibly deflecting the pain, anger and emptiness inside of you while at peace with my agony? Do you feel I’m unjustly treated less than a person and hate the perception I will forever carry? What if I told you I was born with that perception? Do you wish we could trade places even for a day to feel how I feel? Are you free in your life or trapped by monotony, responsibility and failures? Do you feel like a let down, not good enough? Do you envy me? Do you think I have it easy? Are you content, have you found yourself? Do you see yourself in my words? Do you echo my pain? Are you empathetic or numb? Are you alive or existing? Do you ask questions or accept what is? Do you seek or accept what you see? Do you feel fulfilled or a void? Is life enough without love or does the pursuit of it limit life? Are emotions a prison or freedom? Are you free or imprisoned? Does your belief, hopes and faith conquer or fall to your fears? Prison is now my freedom because I am now liberated from secrets. My mistakes are out in the world and though my perception is tainted I am relieved of pressure from things I once hid. Are you so free? Do you walk under the weight of the secrets you hide? I used to envy you but now for some I feel sorry. The weight of reflection and questions can either end or give life but it’ll never make it easier, just more or less purposeful…hey you 

Filed Under: Culture, Spirit, Trauma

Body Language

August 12, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

She never felt wanted 
Blush painted her face 
I felt it…the volcanic like heat of an erotic exhale
Raising the hair on my neck 
I sensed the electric flush of her skin
I saw the vision of desire, eclipsing her irises –
Divulging her secret while fighting the clouds of precipitation 
The pent up protrusion of her diaphragm echoing the 
Contained rage of need within, against my chest 
That iconic moment had an expiration, and for that, she resented me
But I heard the angelic vibrations of her throat
Summon up a fulfilled “thank you”
With one last heave of her chest, and an exhale 
More carnal, yet serene 
We drifted into time…
All she asked for – a hug.

Filed Under: Love, Mercy, Spirit, Trauma

Jaded

August 12, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

I used to do as I feel 

Now I don’t feel at all

The pain is a numb existence 

I tend to withdrawal

Experience is the wisdom 

Of strengths and flaws 

Knowledge only helps you rise 

After it makes you fall.

Filed Under: Culture, Inside, Trauma

Set me free 

August 12, 2017 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

Set me free from this jail
Set me free from this cell
Set me free from this hell
I wanna be free to excel 
I wanna be free to accel
I wanna be free to exhale..

Filed Under: Inside, 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.

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