signs, symbols, symptoms, and systems
Newfoundland
ashamedbecause I tried to be’white’at my best momentsthen by default’black’at my worstashamedbecause I aspiredto be…
occupied freedom
there has been casualtiesand fatalitiesbecause this occupied illusive realitywas founded and liberated upon sustained brutalitiesand…
sadomasochists
AmericaPeoplewhy does it take inflicting painto stop you from inflicting painwhy does it take inflicting…
the chemistry of change
chemistry has three descriptionsliquidsolidand gaschange is also a sciencebut in order for it to be…
less ain’t more
we needless white anticsand more white alliesless white advantageand more black vantageless speechesand more performancesless…
duty bound
preserve Lifereserve Propertyrestore Orderbut which are most valued
paradox
dear world,I’ve changedI’m a black man leaving prison soon to avirus pandemiceconomic pandemicand a social…
social seesaw
when white people are involvedpains absolvewhen black people are involvedpains evolvewhen white people are involvedproblems…
Juneteenth
Holidays get added and taken away all the time. We’re rich in random and temporary traditions…
loss can’t be found
life found me on the edge where gravity had tried to push methe fingers of…
my proactiv method
What are we trying to do right?If we are activists, then what are we speaking…
new school
prisons are the new school’s, new schoolsnot education like they intended of coursekind of reward…
masteredmind
I have been the travesty of my circumstancethe manifestation of my historythe instance of my…
darker presence
it’s quieterthroats clearenergy shiftsair dry and staticwinds whisperuncomfortable movementsmuscles tensebreath heldit smells of fearwhat?all I…
destined to fail
what does hope mean,when choices are more limited than your options?my friend sees another prison…
new social no-no’s
I walk into the cafeteria hereand although we’re all supposed to have our masks onwe…
COVID’s internal impact
I’ve observed that here in prison, we’re more restlesswe feel more neglected and forgottennow that…
covid woes
sadness reigning on a raining daybut you say you’re ‘A OK’resilience steals the pain awayconcealing…
that power word
power…what is too much powerwhen challenging establishments and normswhen uprooting inequalities and integrating balancewhat or…
no sweat
life may be difficult for me I guessbut there’s a fearlessness to the pursuit of…
disorder
we crave orderyet fear when nature seeks itfire destroysmaking way for the newpeople destroyjust for…
deserter
I don’t want to go to war no moreI don’t want to go to war…
but i see it all
they say racism is deadwhite privilege is a jokeget a job is the punch lineprejudice…
programmed to fail
we live with these statisticsalive the moment we’re bornwe live bybelieveand we succumb to these…
2-23 to 5-8
in the midst of social distancing where you can’t get as close as a hand…
Make it Your Own
I don’t read books front to back, well not nonfiction. I’m so against conformity to…
Why Thou Art?
Our society is so hyper vigilant and all about instant gratification, the need of immediate…
Our Nature
I cared for the ground she walked onI cared for the water he drank fromI…
Days of Daze
Power over principleyet the principle,is powereducating lessindoctrinating morephilosophy is challengedwhy ask questions when answers are…
“when life imprisons you… feel free”
I can never be a kid againif you keep being so serious-and we can never…
who you convincing?
Who are you in the face of resistanceeven if just for an instanceimagine something threatening…
solitary mind. set
Being comfortable with quiet seems naturalthis c.o. can’t sit still, he can’t keep quiethe keeps…
Pandemic
What came firstfear,orpanic?Did fear, create the panic?orDid panic, create the fear?Then what created the discrimination…
judged
I need a jury but not of my peers I have no peers you see…
civilized savages
Let’s make civility a law then claim ourselves a civilized country then over police our…
contradictive natures
let’s build prisons to enhance our humanity let’s welcome a flowers doom by presenting it…
chivalry died cuz
Chivalry is dead because men are too intimidated by a woman with a strong voice…
losing control
Protests and movements are so offensive because most relationships happen between fences and compromise is…
each other
Why fight each other, as others I fight for others, with others we are more…
“resilience energy through plight”
To You reading this, this was a musical performance poetry that I performed at Black…
charged to the game
He wanna change his life but he can’tcuz this just what it is he addicted…
misogyny
Womanoh, womanwherefore art thouhow can your mystery be solved?why do I believe that you are…
keep your proximity
she looked out the windowbut she’s scared of heightsshe looked out the doorits too cold…
mirrored mayhem
No government namesonly numbers and monikersswastikasand other affiliated insigniascartel and mafiaillegal immigrantsnon English speakersnumbering minorities…
“resistance”
I don’t know if changing fully is possible in prisonmaybe changing your prisonescaping the one…
passenger seat
Dates..they don’t only tell you where you’re at, but where you werebut I always lose…
kobe was in prison
Kobe was in prisonI mean obviously he wasn’t in prison right…was he?but seriouslyhis impact reached…
Wake Up
We have to wake the hell up! We have to get involved and get out…
Black Matters
My Black skin matter of fact My Black Hyde! thick! like a shield force field…
Color blind
Tread lightly..tiptoe…be careful…PC…Who cares if I offend anyone! “I’m color blind” I hear a lot,…
Let me ask a question
Let me ask a question, why do so many things in this country go unquestioned…
What’s the end goal of incarceration?
What is the end goal of incarceration? what does the public expect the inmates to…
Untitled
A circle has no end or beginning, but it is ever revolving, and the more…
Glass Prints
Who would’ve known as a grown man, I’d still be that lost boy fogging the…
Imprisoned prism of a Realist
Realist The term rings off real sure, but to me it is lacking. Wisdom is…
In the Eyes of the Beholder: Mea Culpa
I think what’s lost on people is that ‘guilty’ isn’t the only life changing judgement…
Roe V. Wade
I’m not a religious cynic, I’m just a religion critic my beliefs first, I believe…
Untitled
“Politicized” everyone hates politics so I hear I flee debates and turn on the TV…
Ignorance, not Bliss
A c.o. asked if I were racist surprised by the question’s basis because it was…
M- Power
We need to help bring fourth more trailblazing feminist like Supreme court Judge Ruth Bader…
Questioned
Maybe I ask questions because I’m questioned maybe I ask because I question being sequestered…
Prose: creation
Taboo, just because me and my sons’ mothers aren’t together doesn’t mean I can’t have…
“I can’t wait to be a person again”
I swear! Every day at my job by 11:05 I say, ‘J 1 D 19-Lower,…
Pro se Con-tint: Politics, Parole, People
Politics. Prison is governed by politics. We learn from politics, we emulate a structure, code,…
Prison Dad
Shame face. So I’m here, who am I to say what’s best for a child…
Pro se Con-tints: Justice Cold, Just Ice Cold
There are answers we don’t understand, so it’s encumbant we try to search for them,…
Pro se Con-tints: “One day” will come
What is it called when you have an appointment or meeting scheduled, and you bring…
Pro se Con-tints: Hate to see you go..
Hate to see you go…but I love watching you walk away. Being at this new…
SuProsd2B-A-Con – Coming on too strong?
Ok, who made this rule of coming on too strong? I mean, I know there…
SuProsd2B-A-Con- women are mutants
OK, time us men admit that women are mutants! I’m educating myself in prison because…
Imagination – SuProsed2B-A-Con
“Imagination is more important than knowledge”- Einstein To have boundless imagination I believe you too…
Daughter, Son
Daughter stand and speak as a proud virgin Son there’s strength in controlling urges…
Dear Woman
Dear woman I fail to respect you Dear woman I’ve stolen your worth Dear woman…
Untitled
SuProsed2B-A-Con We owe it to people to be open enough to understand them, not because…
SuProsed2B-A-Con
If you have a loved one or know anyone in prison, the most important thing…
Untitled
SuProsed2B-A-Con When I was young my uncle told me I will write a book one…
STBAC: Perception, Perseverance, Pursuit, Perfection, and Per diem
SuProsed To Be A Con: Perception, Perseverance, Pursuit, Perfection, and Per diem -They say a…
More STBAC: Perception, Perseverance, Pursuit, Perfection, and Per diem
SuProsed to be a Con: Reasons & Relative Relationships
I phrased it this way because I believe we need to understand the role, construct…
Colors
Lions, Tigers, Bears and I they say don’t stare right into it its essence may…
The thing about a Flower
The thing about a flower..is beauty til death It lives with grace, as it dies…
Untitled
I never realized until right on time that the only thing I had to prove,…
From Rags to Ranks
From rags to ranks Humvees and tanks Ships, submarines and planes Keeping our freedoms safe…
Hello World, It’s me
Hello world, it’s me, Russ, Resilience Under Stressful Situations No need for last names, we…
Dear Mr. Correctional Officer
Dear Mr. Correctional Officer Please come correct with the office you-hold Please come correct with…
Untitled
I once identified as Christian Maybe because of Christmas So I guess I never been religious…
Untitled
Will it be pride or privilege that conquers us? because our ocular is sub-consciously co-opted…
Hemmed in Him
Bend over and accept him sometimes quicker than desired, compliment his manhood, tell him work…
Been through it
I been through the system, symptoms Been opened my eyes mom and dad was missing,…
Blues
You got the blues, you lookin like ‘well what’s new?’ You ain’t been hurt in…
Inside Out
I’m tryna live inside out my means I woke up inside a dream Whispers inside…
Go Girl
Go head girl, get ahead girl But don’t be giving head and don’t be spreading…
Would you
Would you jump from the edge of a cliff Into the deepest abyss Where imagination…
What it feels to be young
She craves genuine people, though she’s scared of the truth She knows she’s beautiful, but…
Love will make you
The things that love will make you do It’s made for two if you make…
Mind Trip
What’s a mind if you dont mind being mindless? Would you be a mime standing…
Happy New Years
I used to think that titles were cliche. A name needed to affirm the important…
Dr. Russ
A lot of people say there is no change until you take responsibility for your…
Addict
Chain smoke, binge drink Pop pills, narcoma… Inhaled lines, euphoria! Crazy thoughts..scared of needles Exhale…