• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Prose of a Con

Poetry and Prose by Russell Wardlow

  • Home
  • About
  • Prose
    • Culture
    • Inside
    • Love
    • Mercy
    • Spirit
    • Trauma
  • Listen
  • News
  • Connect
  • Support

Mercy

paradoxes, paradigms, and parachutes

Some Things Better Kept Between Two or Few…but I’ma Share this Even if it isn’t Alright with You

June 21, 2022

Hey Lauren, Thank you for your concern, your genuine reaction and heartfelt connection are always…

More Some Things Better Kept Between Two or Few…but I’ma Share this Even if it isn’t Alright with You

Leaders Lead Fulltime

June 9, 2022

and here lies the responsibility of opening doors what’s the point if you’re not there…

More Leaders Lead Fulltime

Misguided Astronautical Musings

May 5, 2022

unsuccessfully I chased you to Moon and back traversing zero gravity exploring parts unknown rationalizing…

More Misguided Astronautical Musings

Heart-filled Reminders

May 5, 2022

made to remember my record yet I forget the records written upon my heart that…

More Heart-filled Reminders

Two Pictures Make a Whole

May 5, 2022

I am an adult and child a man and boy gentleman and ghetto distinguished and…

More Two Pictures Make a Whole

Exchange

May 3, 2022

I will teach you life from my eyes and all I ask, is to remember…

More Exchange

FTW

May 3, 2022

the things I say now may not be grasped until later but if you truly…

More FTW

A Reflective Letter Sent to a Friend

May 3, 2022

hmm I wonder if I have to say this or is everything existential and essential…

More A Reflective Letter Sent to a Friend

Stolen Identity

May 3, 2022

darkness is misunderstood it was the first light that which only knew unity. and the…

More Stolen Identity

Model Set Forth

May 3, 2022

what I know is based on the example which I live how I live is…

More Model Set Forth

Heart Leadership

May 3, 2022

one must follow to learn lessons of the followers so when one leads they understand…

More Heart Leadership

Will and Choice

May 3, 2022

my growth doesn’t mean your growth your growth doesn’t mean I grow but we can…

More Will and Choice

Cut Outs

May 3, 2022

there are many pieces can you see the ones needing to be brought back together?

More Cut Outs

Destitute Diatribes

May 1, 2022

I dare not ask why my turmoil exists for it is I whom questions the…

More Destitute Diatribes

Poor Choice, Poor Condition

April 25, 2022

to all who have ears to listen and eyes to bear witness sometimes poor is…

More Poor Choice, Poor Condition

Note to Self

April 22, 2022

And I look to the Sun- Magnificent Manifestor- for it is You whom unconditionally gives…

More Note to Self

Prodigal Apology

April 11, 2022

Dear Father I’m sorry for you know my heart where the full extent of this…

More Prodigal Apology

Phenomenons of Thought

April 5, 2022

there is no phenomena in cause and effect it is mere natural law a phenomenon…

More Phenomenons of Thought

All Things Come to Crossroads

March 28, 2022

how long will I take this indignity… if the cost is too great than what…

More All Things Come to Crossroads

What is Reason, for the Selfish Mind?

March 24, 2022

the selfish irony of receiving counsel on patience and setbacks from a lifer was lost…

More What is Reason, for the Selfish Mind?

Reflective Rhyme Schemes

March 21, 2022

I used to see tragedies as God’s way of getting back at me maybe because…

More Reflective Rhyme Schemes

and Still

March 16, 2022

that which I thought I was I am unbecoming my thoughts exactly I am unbecoming…

More and Still

Pros of a Liberated Con-Science

March 11, 2022

we can’t let the moments that they define be the moments that we decide message…

More Pros of a Liberated Con-Science

What A Sight

March 9, 2022

appeal is such a task a veil is but a mask and as paint peels…

More What A Sight

Figure of Speech (Free-verse)

March 3, 2022

I am the definition of an acrobatic radical versatile as my vertebrae vertical verses reverse…

More Figure of Speech (Free-verse)

The Angels and I We made Promise Rings out of Halos

February 23, 2022

I rose up. married to my destiny I counted the blessings of my success’ dreaded…

More The Angels and I We made Promise Rings out of Halos

A Mortal Man Dies with his Dependencies

February 20, 2022

the story of the generations which will exceed us, is of different origins and points…

More A Mortal Man Dies with his Dependencies

Prison, is a Place for Ghosts?!

February 15, 2022

pt. 1 prison is a place I go to often in my mind jogged in…

More Prison, is a Place for Ghosts?!

Calling out all Demons

February 3, 2022

I call on my ancestors, so that I may have faith in them, to speak…

More Calling out all Demons

Book Worm

January 17, 2022

is the apple bad because it a worm was found or is the apple already…

More Book Worm

A King, has Returned

January 9, 2022

do not the poles of the earth bring about the equator just as the poles…

More A King, has Returned

Transference

January 7, 2022

inhaling impurities exhaling insecurities a mirror of my breath the air of obscurity

More Transference

I am the Day, I am the Definite-Carpe Diem

November 27, 2021

I am the force you’ve all of course tried to thwart though horrors enforced you…

More I am the Day, I am the Definite-Carpe Diem

Toilet Frame of Mind

November 27, 2021

you know when someone don’t believe in you not because of ‘you’ particularly it’s just…

More Toilet Frame of Mind

God to God

November 8, 2021

I’m going to do you a favor and treat you like a god not just…

More God to God

Kill you with Truth

November 8, 2021

wish I could Kill you with Truth so you would die to the Lies then…

More Kill you with Truth

Stop Asking Me to be Better than You

October 27, 2021

please, stop asking me to be better than you I hear it in your please…

More Stop Asking Me to be Better than You

Global Tel-Missing-Link

October 27, 2021

building connections on a payphone when the time is limited tentative and expensive pretending with…

More Global Tel-Missing-Link

I Got a Story to Tell

October 27, 2021

to the performance stage, from a prison cell I got a story to tell chaos…

More I Got a Story to Tell

Set the Intention to be Free

September 27, 2021

hello? is this mic on? are these lights on? my thoughts when I was first…

More Set the Intention to be Free

Living With Myself

September 27, 2021

if you could imagine for a second what it’s like to be me, for one…

More Living With Myself

Reborn King (Spoken Word)

September 27, 2021

and you are a newborn prince or a reborn king and you have to pay…

More Reborn King (Spoken Word)

20/20

September 1, 2021

it’s the mistakes which broke us then brought other things, people, places together now bound…

More 20/20

Let

September 1, 2021

I still can learn a lesson in loving without attachment accepting and letting be what…

More Let

With Without

September 1, 2021

I can be without ‘with’ be, can I with without? yes! born abundant

More With Without

Message to Seekers

September 1, 2021

please do not open coffins if you can not handle the sacred remains, chant the…

More Message to Seekers

Mercy

September 1, 2021

I have to learn to give mercy even at times when the lack of mercy…

More Mercy

Air Flow

September 1, 2021

just breathe mindfully too much wind will make a tornado of earth a hurricane of…

More Air Flow

Re-membered

September 1, 2021

Remember?Re-member. your being, beingdismemberedso to memory, beinglostwho you are?what you are?how, you are? Remember? Re-member.…

More Re-membered

Good Damage

August 22, 2021

there’s value in brokenness you just have to want to see it in yourself then…

More Good Damage

Empac-thize

August 22, 2021

empathize with the devil advocate for the ghettos break ground with the pebbles sympathize with…

More Empac-thize

See Me Right

July 10, 2021

you can not see me adding your blockers how can you appreciate me in your…

More See Me Right

Vent

July 6, 2021

I feel if I don’t come out all tough then it’ll seem like prison wasn’t…

More Vent

Pain On Me

July 3, 2021

God grant that I become more than dirt manifest me as earth and let the…

More Pain On Me

My Mama Veered Left, but We ALL-RIGHT

July 3, 2021

I just found out… before my mom went back to jail she started using again…

More My Mama Veered Left, but We ALL-RIGHT

Melodic Verse: Incredulous

July 1, 2021

how can you want more for me than I want for myself? that doesn’t make…

More Melodic Verse: Incredulous

I am Good

June 30, 2021

remember me because I am good I protect the weak I am as kind as…

More I am Good

Broken for the Broken

June 29, 2021

I don’t want to be healed they need to be felt I need someone to…

More Broken for the Broken

Peekaboo

June 28, 2021

if you face your fears you will see me boo! am I beautiful? freedom is,…

More Peekaboo

Knowing is the Start

June 28, 2021

I needed you to see me so I could see myself I believed your sight…

More Knowing is the Start

Realistic Reality

June 22, 2021

your mind tells you I’m free but your eyes say something different I know seeing…

More Realistic Reality

Mental Warfare

June 3, 2021

I ran into a barrier of some sort falling down from the brunt impact surprise…

More Mental Warfare

Sometimes You Gotta Hurt Feelings, to Heal Hearts

June 1, 2021

even in relationships friendships sparked a connective camaraderie forged in the fire of external forces…

More Sometimes You Gotta Hurt Feelings, to Heal Hearts

Relayed in Per Diem

May 31, 2021

and I leaned upon your shoulder then laid atop your lap melted by the oven-like…

More Relayed in Per Diem

Know Me Better

May 23, 2021

how can I forsake you was it not your conducting that created me your keen…

More Know Me Better

a bugs life

May 13, 2021

if i could speak id tell you dont bug me bug off! im not trying…

More a bugs life

A Talent for Sovereignty

May 8, 2021

as I grow evolve I must coming aware of what’s needed like veins to a…

More A Talent for Sovereignty

Freed

May 8, 2021

trying to control what you do not understand, it is fear! release me! from Yours…

More Freed

Survived More

May 7, 2021

overcompensating with, overindulged processed foods and I survive in this life, because I don’t process,…

More Survived More

Fallible Makeup

May 6, 2021

Some think the system is perfect We know it isn’t and We will make a…

More Fallible Makeup

Regardless, Life will Hurt the Same

May 6, 2021

I care less, that you care less you are care less that is careless I’m…

More Regardless, Life will Hurt the Same

Not as Crazy as I Once was

May 6, 2021

I know you may think I’m crazy I know this may sound irrational like projected…

More Not as Crazy as I Once was

Re-vealed

May 6, 2021

my truth isn’t excuse nor ungrateful the progeny of your fear resonates as hateful do…

More Re-vealed

What We Do with What We Have

May 6, 2021

thinking of the life of Chadwick Boseman how he lived even as he died unexpectedly…

More What We Do with What We Have

Until They Can, I Will

May 6, 2021

I have to be what I couldn’t be for beings that have been but can’t…

More Until They Can, I Will

Ra-Hotep

May 6, 2021

if not grace propelling love to create how would I be love creates peace creation

More Ra-Hotep

Shameless and Self-defecating Haiku

May 6, 2021

admission everybody shits judge your own inhaled emissions

More Shameless and Self-defecating Haiku

Liberating Comforts

May 6, 2021

today I had a root beer float I tasted freedom yum! what prison when I’m…

More Liberating Comforts

Nefr Tp(nefer tep)–the highest good

May 6, 2021

control of thoughts emotions devotion to purpose have in the ancestor’s ability to teach the…

More Nefr Tp(nefer tep)–the highest good

Where then Shall Wisdom Exist?

May 2, 2021

how can a body stripped of spirit at the mind robbed of imagination contemplate the…

More Where then Shall Wisdom Exist?

Millenial Martyrs

April 24, 2021

to proceed to progress we have to hurriedly, process because by death is how we…

More Millenial Martyrs

Rhetoric by Design

April 22, 2021

to qualify the quality of equality you must first believe in and successfully conduct the…

More Rhetoric by Design

I Am

April 22, 2021

I am creation- light life love balanced knowing understanding wise I am created- able willing…

More I Am

Oda Keke- (to be upside down and walking in darkness)

April 15, 2021

an African proverb states, “they don’t know, that they don’t know, that they don’t know.”…

More Oda Keke- (to be upside down and walking in darkness)

What Do You Prefer to be Called?

April 15, 2021

call me what you really want to call me that way we can understand each…

More What Do You Prefer to be Called?

Barefoot Bravado

April 8, 2021

took my boots but I became a Flintstone and still I stood tall moved on…

More Barefoot Bravado

Changing Changes Changelessness

April 4, 2021

my body plunged by this mighty sword of life blood of my life force rained…

More Changing Changes Changelessness

Smiling Through Change

April 2, 2021

the difference between a stagnant activist and a dynamic activist the difference between an activist…

More Smiling Through Change

Evolved Light

April 1, 2021

inside my lair of reasons and unknowns- deep as the ocean floor’s fluorescent inhabitants- there…

More Evolved Light

I’m not a Poet, Surprised You didn’t Know it

April 1, 2021

what I write, isn’t poetry to me poetry is clean direct in its route impactful…

More I’m not a Poet, Surprised You didn’t Know it

Through Me, to You, and back/ You Two, Plus Me, Equals Three

March 26, 2021

I was always there helping you just look I was always there shedding light just…

More Through Me, to You, and back/ You Two, Plus Me, Equals Three

Home is Where I Had to Make

March 18, 2021

I feel the beast calling to me consuming me back into her belly and it…

More Home is Where I Had to Make

helpfuLess

March 12, 2021

I dream to save the world I desire to be saved so while I’m out…

More helpfuLess

As it SEEms

March 11, 2021

several merchants and a beggar each holding something in their hand besides the beggar their…

More As it SEEms

Aiming from the Ground (Lyrics)

March 10, 2021

(chorus/hook): I been 100 I keep it 100 I’m going a hunned I move like…

More Aiming from the Ground (Lyrics)

Advice

March 6, 2021

advice on love don’t! advice on feel touch advice on hearing shhh advice on seeing…

More Advice

Omens

March 4, 2021

wolf howling in the distance conceding an omen a pile of bones left in my…

More Omens

Sacrifice

February 28, 2021

sacrifice why must one lose for another to win why must one choose as if…

More Sacrifice

Dear Diary,

February 27, 2021

how do you court a ghost, phantom, angel, goddess, or spirit? with patience, surrender, or…

More Dear Diary,

Untitled

February 25, 2021

I felt your fingers from beyond imagine my surprise the only touch my spirit called…

More Untitled

Primary Sidebar

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

Themes

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

Footer

Prose of a Con

Prose of a Con is sponsored by giveabeat.org

  • Instagram

Navigation

  • Home
  • About
  • Prose
  • Listen
  • News
  • Connect
  • Support

Themes

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

Prose of a Con © 2023 · web design by Studio Lyko