Behind the Bars

for someone special. miss you, see you soon.

                     Behind the Bars

 

Pacing in Circles

Wishing for Windows

Marinating in Regrets

Life has become Hard,

                     Behind the bars.

One hour of Sunlight

Surrounded by Fences

Gates, Guns and Armored Defenses

Feeling Jarred like a fly,

                     Behind the bars.

Seeing Family through the Glass

Saying sorry can’t take back

                      Clock. Ticks. Stop.

Hanging up the Phone

Mother's heading Home

Feeling so alone

Returning to my cellblock

Scratching One more day off

As I sit and wait for the last,

Me, Master of my Fate

Now a prisoner, an inmate,

With an Attorney and a Guard.

Me, one of many stars

                        - Behind the bars.

Author's Note

Wrote this visiting someone at a New Hampshire prison in Derby.
I drove up family members and I wasn't on the list, so I couldn't see him.
As I waited for their visit to be over, I wrote this poem.
After a while I shot the shit with the prison guard, and he had a change of heart.
He let me go in and see the person I drove there to see, and I am grateful for that.

Reviews

[Angela L Garratt]

I will be absolutly honest with you...because that is just me. I read this poem a few times and I even read it to my partner who is also an artist. At first I did not like it, I know it is because I have never been to a jail, maybe...I suppose I just don't sympathise with those who deserve to be in jail...but bear with me. I thought about it for a while and I realised that your poem did exactly what art is meant to do...it made me feel. Now, I probably would not go as far to say that I like the content of this poem, but I certainly appreciate it for it's place in the art world.

[JonathanHammond]

Thank you Angela, the poem was written in a prison. Luckily, I was not behind the bars but visiting someone who was. Perhaps the emotion captured in the poem is reminiscent to the feelings I had while writing the piece.

[Gazza]

The piece really captured the moment, gives one reason to reflect on why you would not want to be the one behind the bars.

[JonathanHammond]

Absolutely lol or American History X

[Tina Louise UK]

I feel I would suffocate in such circumstances, you captured it perfectly...enjoyed :) x

[JonathanHammond]

Thanks so much Tia! I think harder than the space or same-sex isolation (lol) would be the inescapable feelings of guilt. However, when drugs lead to crime, perhaps an extended period of time to clear one's head is better than the alternative of perhaps, death.