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Prose of a Con

Poetry and Prose by Russell Wardlow

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Inside

panoramic malevolence

I Am U

December 8, 2020

I am black, I am white, I am brown, I am yellow, I am mixed,…

More I Am U

This Sys-tem

December 5, 2020

This sys-tem is like a cyst this sys-tem is a stem of oppression and isms…

More This Sys-tem

Concentration Camps

December 4, 2020

Capitalism won’t defund prisons so make a labor class of it’s citizens, voting rights and…

More Concentration Camps

Projection Deflection

December 3, 2020

If a person stands in their truth, they are seeking attention. If self diagnosed, they…

More Projection Deflection

Dear Parole Board

December 2, 2020

Dear Parole Board I wasn’t supposed to be here Do you know the dark I…

More Dear Parole Board

Symbliminal Messaging

December 1, 2020

Removing symbols aren’t the solution but in a society of symbolism and their creeds idolization…

More Symbliminal Messaging

Riding the Emotional Hump

November 30, 2020

I’m inconsistent insufferable overbearing and insensitive at times I say I’m passionate but I may…

More Riding the Emotional Hump

Rapped Tight Prose Verse

November 29, 2020

I’m tired of living this life I’m tired of living this life I had to…

More Rapped Tight Prose Verse

Neurotic

November 28, 2020

I do NOT have it all together. I don’t know why nobody gets that. I’ve…

More Neurotic

Friendliest Foes

November 27, 2020

Agreement often times creates ignorance and blindness it’s in the face of opposition that we…

More Friendliest Foes

Our state- ran by brilliant billionaires

November 25, 2020

Uh we have the most billionaires per capita in the U.S. here in Nebraska. Pete…

More Our state- ran by brilliant billionaires

Unheralded Nebraska Corrections

November 23, 2020

Everyone flies over walks past or stops by this middle America Nebraska our crime lowered…

More Unheralded Nebraska Corrections

Drugged

November 22, 2020

Drugs or die do drugs or die doing drugs cuz I wanna die doing drugs…

More Drugged

Avarice Society

November 21, 2020

Why is it so hard for us to create healthy changes to our perception, thinking…

More Avarice Society

Contempt Contentment

November 20, 2020

Right before I enter my room I look into it’s narrow window and it’s small,…

More Contempt Contentment

Compiled Compliance

November 19, 2020

You want me to be myself but more like you, more in the way that…

More Compiled Compliance

Fighting Odds

November 18, 2020

If the faculties I possess, which help me to identify my emotions and react with…

More Fighting Odds

Peeping Through My Window Part 4

November 17, 2020

“Peeping through my Window pt 4” I’m a boy. From 2007, I left my group…

More Peeping Through My Window Part 4

Peeping Through My Window Part 3

November 16, 2020

“Peeping thru my Window pt 3” I’m a boy. Relationships, where do I even start…

More Peeping Through My Window Part 3

Peeping Through My Window Part 2

November 15, 2020

“Peeping through my Window pt 2” I’m a boy. We all gotta grow up sometime…

More Peeping Through My Window Part 2

Peeping Through My Window Part 1

November 14, 2020

“Peeping through my Window Pt 1” I’m a boy. We have this patriarchal society that…

More Peeping Through My Window Part 1

Looking Back-in

November 13, 2020

The saddest thing is making plans far down the road at a date where you’ll…

More Looking Back-in

Pressure

November 13, 2020

Ran from too many lectures and pressures, back pressed to the fire exit doors Jump…

More Pressure

You Don’t Know How I Feel

November 11, 2020

You don’t know how I feeel …inside you don’t know how I feel …inside you…

More You Don’t Know How I Feel

E=MC^2

November 10, 2020

Life is your economy fueled by energy, empathy and economics on this journey the car…

More E=MC^2

Societal Farmers

November 9, 2020

Take a look at who you process those innocent kids thrusted into statistics poverty and…

More Societal Farmers

Chained Change

November 5, 2020

Prison is a unique walk that is, if you’re looking to grow and mature because…

More Chained Change

Black Pandemic

November 4, 2020

Promises “progress” poverty public policies politicians profiteering police prosecutor prison parole and presidents(dead or alive)

More Black Pandemic

So smart I’m Stupid

November 2, 2020

Too smart for my own good too smart to do no good but too smart…

More So smart I’m Stupid

Uneven Measure

November 2, 2020

I have a question why when our public servants make mistakes they are able to…

More Uneven Measure

Better if I Say it

November 1, 2020

Gotta get used to talking about myself if I want the world to know me…

More Better if I Say it

Prison Made

November 1, 2020

Punish me, if I succumb to the pain you impose on me and have the…

More Prison Made

Stepped on

November 1, 2020

How much indignities must I suffer how many insults must I bear how long shall…

More Stepped on

No middle

November 1, 2020

I only feel when I’m threatened or stressed I have to go thru something to…

More No middle

Psychos Therapy

November 1, 2020

Psychotherapists should look to set up in prisons if they really wanna make a difference…

More Psychos Therapy

Grew up, I’m-prisoned

October 29, 2020

I grew up mother incarcerated father deceased I grew up as a foster child and…

More Grew up, I’m-prisoned

Realest Shadows

October 25, 2020

Contemplating my existence has me feeling like Plato in constant physical meditation and application seeing…

More Realest Shadows

Amygdala, Prefrontal Cortex Wars

October 22, 2020

I’m overly stimulated yet numb if I get overstimulated, I’m numb prefer to be over…

More Amygdala, Prefrontal Cortex Wars

Errday my birthday

October 21, 2020

I die so much daily living to reflect on the happening the next day surprised…

More Errday my birthday

Entrapped

October 21, 2020

There’s never enough timewhen time is all you needthinking back,time and time againI’ve noticed,that time…

More Entrapped

You’re smarter than this

October 20, 2020

“You know you better, you’re smarter than thisyou have so much potential, but you harbor…

More You’re smarter than this

Rewarded Punishers

October 13, 2020

Imprison me and it’s a political and capitalistic win-win Prepackaged, a voteless tax write off…

More Rewarded Punishers

Everyone is a Felon

October 6, 2020

Either in conscience or act. The only line of difference is my color. Every so…

More Everyone is a Felon

Cop Out

September 29, 2020

We’re not taught nor encouraged to trust legal figures they do more harm than help…

More Cop Out

What have you done for me lately

September 26, 2020

So I’ve noticed more police campaigns and commercials advertising what they do for us now…

More What have you done for me lately

Take my Place

September 24, 2020

I’m not everything you want me to be but this is my lifethis is not…

More Take my Place

High Horse

September 21, 2020

You put me down looked down upon me saying, my place was down well I…

More High Horse

Here-US

September 20, 2020

Nebraska doesn’t hear us or they just don’t care and no one outside of Nebraska,…

More Here-US

Everyday C.O.

September 7, 2020

C.O.’s are average any day people. When handling prisoners, I would think there should a…

More Everyday C.O.

Blasé

September 3, 2020

Sky is blue everything black and white I am grey…or gray

More Blasé

Paint Poems

August 28, 2020

I paint moments and put them in poetrycuz if I rapped it most would attack…

More Paint Poems

Ever Since

August 18, 2020

Ever sinceevidenceI’ve beenpinnedpent upin the penwith a penI wrote painI write painI right painI’ve caused,I’ve…

More Ever Since

Pros’ Poems

August 13, 2020

Don’t walk away from medon’t build a fortressand forestour fortuneforcingour forfeitforgive me for myinformal forumsforages…

More Pros’ Poems

Fight or Flight Fright Night

August 5, 2020

You fight or flight change I fight or flight for change Though my fright of…

More Fight or Flight Fright Night

puh, puh, bullshit! (bless me)

August 1, 2020

Policies politicians police pulllllllllease! sounds like target practice to me

More puh, puh, bullshit! (bless me)

Blood

July 31, 2020

I pray..I stray..eyes glazed..crrrrryyyy babypupils, diiiiiiii-latedhe-look-de-hyyyyy-drated, she-look-de-hyyyyy-dratedblood peaking…I see,.. bloooood seeping open, blooood seeping o-penblood…

More Blood

This could be the Beginning

July 25, 2020

This could be the beginning of something greatereverything else…save it for laterI am riding giveabeats…

More This could be the Beginning

paradox

June 23, 2020

dear world, I’ve changed I’m a black man leaving prison soon to a virus pandemic…

More paradox

glossed over

June 20, 2020

amongst your personal sacrificesI neglected to notice your gender and cultural crisesthe weight of being…

More glossed over

loss can’t be found

June 17, 2020

life found me on the edge where gravity had tried to push methe fingers of…

More loss can’t be found

8:46

June 15, 2020

can I please have your undivided attention? eh mhm! an unarmed Blackman is actually an…

More 8:46

my proactiv method

June 14, 2020

What are we trying to do right? If we are activists, then what are we…

More my proactiv method

i want and so what

June 13, 2020

Move is this great goal I want to achieve, but only to connect, I genuinely…

More i want and so what

new school

June 12, 2020

prisons are the new school’s, new schoolsnot education like they intended of coursekind of reward…

More new school

destined to fail

June 6, 2020

what does hope mean, when choices are more limited than your options? my friend sees…

More destined to fail

new social no-no’s

June 5, 2020

I walk into the cafeteria hereand although we’re all supposed to have our masks onwe…

More new social no-no’s

who feels it worse

June 4, 2020

I wonderon whom is it harderwhen you watch people leavewhile you stay in prisonthen you…

More who feels it worse

reliving the worst

June 3, 2020

my friend’s mom recently was found unresponsiveshe had a heart attackhe voiced this to me…

More reliving the worst

connectedly disconnected

June 2, 2020

I think I’m starting to feel this ‘time’ more nowthan I have in a while,it’s…

More connectedly disconnected

COVID’s internal impact

June 1, 2020

I’ve observed that here in prison, we’re more restlesswe feel more neglected and forgottennow that…

More COVID’s internal impact

where have the years gone

May 31, 2020

where did the years gowhere have they taken mein what reality has these years placed…

More where have the years gone

covid woes

May 30, 2020

sadness reigning on a raining daybut you say you’re ‘A OK’resilience steals the pain awayconcealing…

More covid woes

cut thin

May 29, 2020

I cut myselfand watched my flesh-this temporary shell to which my spirit hides within-break apartto…

More cut thin

Happy Birthday Josiah

May 12, 2020

Happy Birthday JosiahI remember your beautiful image vividly the day of your birthplace JosiahI don’t…

More Happy Birthday Josiah

programmed to fail

May 8, 2020

we live with these statisticsalive the moment we’re bornwe live bybelieveand we succumb to these…

More programmed to fail

2-23 to 5-8

May 8, 2020

in the midst of social distancing where you can’t get as close as a hand…

More 2-23 to 5-8

Days of Daze

April 17, 2020

Power over principleyet the principle,is powereducating lessindoctrinating morephilosophy is challengedwhy ask questions when answers are…

More Days of Daze

“when life imprisons you… feel free”

April 5, 2020

I can never be a kid againif you keep being so serious-and we can never…

More “when life imprisons you… feel free”

Hmmm

April 5, 2020

I’m passionate I guessI’m just an emotional wreckmy drive is crazy, my life I’ve been…

More Hmmm

Out and In

April 4, 2020

If I’m looking outward than I won’t see inwardI can not look inwardthe skin of…

More Out and In

Flight

April 2, 2020

To fallis to flyto flyis to fallfor without oneoneness is losttherefore,this in betweenthat we navigateis…

More Flight

Illusion of Conformity

April 1, 2020

Been lonely for so longthough so afraid to stay lonelyafraid of companyafraid of companionsI need…

More Illusion of Conformity

Twilight

March 31, 2020

Twilightluminescent sparks rekindleas if a fire has been litembers shimmer,and glow like flecks of goldembroidered…

More Twilight

solitary mind. set

March 24, 2020

Being comfortable with quiet seems naturalthis c.o. can’t sit still, he can’t keep quiethe keeps…

More solitary mind. set

Some inside scripts

March 23, 2020

It’s about positioning yourself if they ain’t on what u on, cut your hours short…

More Some inside scripts

I don’t wanna exist

March 22, 2020

I don’t wanna existI wanna liveif I can not livethen let me dieI rather diewhen…

More I don’t wanna exist

X2

March 14, 2020

I said this is hard time she said, she doing hard time too so it’s…

More X2

safe distance

March 12, 2020

I don’t feel you’ll know me, if I ever tell you I don’t believe I’ll…

More safe distance

judged

March 10, 2020

I need a jury but not of my peers I have no peers you see…

More judged

know me

March 8, 2020

I seek to decrease prejudice and increase understanding please stop judging without knowing because I’m…

More know me

in denial

March 6, 2020

Prison is walking inside of the world, barely making it back out with a story…

More in denial

I don’t look beneath me like a giant

February 25, 2020

I don’t look beneath me like a giantleave me to my own devicesI see poltergeistsand…

More I don’t look beneath me like a giant

Cast Away

February 19, 2020

Preyed upon by light I pray for darkness a grim body cast shielding my skin…

More Cast Away

mirrored mayhem

February 15, 2020

No government namesonly numbers and monikersswastikasand other affiliated insigniascartel and mafiaillegal immigrantsnon English speakersnumbering minorities…

More mirrored mayhem

“resistance”

February 13, 2020

I don’t know if changing fully is possible in prisonmaybe changing your prisonescaping the one…

More “resistance”

all by myself

February 12, 2020

eh mhm?!?is this mic on?anyone hear me?helloooo?I feel that fallen tree in the forestdoes anyone,anyone…

More all by myself

I’m more than I been thru

February 11, 2020

Lose a lotbruised a lotabused a lotused a lotmoved a lotlocked in rooms a lotyouth…

More I’m more than I been thru

Sleeping Away

February 10, 2020

Sleep is like treading the darkest abyss where shadows have bodies, and nightmares exist feeling…

More Sleeping Away

Your Way

February 10, 2020

You never know what ain’t enough, til it ain’t enough you never know that pain…

More Your Way

Looking Down

February 10, 2020

Damn… it’s a sad life for a caterpillar I wonder what he sees when he…

More Looking Down

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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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  • Evolving Dream January 15, 2021
  • I Am U December 8, 2020
  • One last time December 7, 2020
  • This Sys-tem December 5, 2020
  • Concentration Camps December 4, 2020

Themes

  • Culture
  • Inside
  • Love
  • Mercy
  • Spirit
  • Trauma

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