“Who we rep?!”
“Diligence…”

“Who we rep?!”
“Disappointment…”

“Who we rep?!”
“Determination…”

“Who we rep?!”
“Damnation…”

we waste away our youth in jail cells
and tattoo our dreams on ourselves
for days when we’re not feeling well
so we can look down at our skin
to remember the inspiration within.
sometimes pictures are all we have
because our commissary consists mainly of
could have, should have, and would have
which keeps our stomachs empty.

why oh why
is time working against me?
the judge gave me 15 to life and sometimes
i fear i’ll be a prisoner until
i can retire at 65.
the other day a lifer laughed at me
and said i’ll never get out
and i shook my head and smiled.
he doesn’t know that when the lights go out,
i stay up and plot my escape.
one day they’ll wake up
and i will be traveling far, far away.
i’ll shed these prison clothes
and today will be yesterday.

He moves from home to jail and home again
Connected to God’s pendulum.
He blames the world
And especially the man.
He swings at random.

He enters lives.
Several babies don’t know him.
He borrows starts.
His mother disowns him.
And he lies.

No commitment that takes time
Ever sticks.
He doesn’t have the-
Time.
It’s done to him.

He believes in God
And in the man
He needs to believe in himself.

Leslie, age 57