Hey again, guys, Crowhesghost here to spread some more literary love to the masses.
*pause for collective groan*
Okay, now that you've got that out of your systems, I'd like to talk to you today about poetry from a rather unexpected source.
Now, before you read any further in my meandering missive (huzzah for alliteration!), I'd like you to take a moment and check out these three poems. It's all right, go ahead. I've got coffee, I can wait.



Back? Okay, good. Now, in case you were wondering, from the account username and whatnot: yes, each of these poems was written by prison inmates.
When I started the Literary Underground a couple of weeks ago, My very first member, OneMoreFreek (there ya go, Toby, there's a gratuitous plug), asked me if would be cool if he also joined the club under the PrisonerExpress account, and I was good with that. Poetry is poetry, and that's the name of the game with me.
So, after I read the first few submissions, I noticed one thing: there was some amazing damn poetry being written and submitted here.
So, I looked into it a bit more, and with the info provided by OneMoreFreek, I discovered what PrisonerExpress is all about.
PrisonerExpress is a program that allows prisoners to express themselves through art and literature, while at the same time providing them with books and educational programs, to supplement their rehabilitation. There's an on-line newsletter, as well, which I would heartily recommend you check out: ”risoner Express.
Now, I know what you're thinking: “Why the hell should we care? They're prisoners!” Well, kids, the answer's simple: prisoners or not, they're human, too. The prevailing attitude towards inmates is that they're somehow subhuman, Neanderthals that should be kept away for the public good. Granted, there are people on the inside who more than likely NEED to be kept away, but how is that any different from someone on the outside who just hasn't been caught yet, that no one around them has any idea what kind of person they really are?
The problem here, kids, is that our society paints a picture of a prisoner as being a person who deserves to be shunned and turned away for the entirety of their lives. The reality of it, however, is that there are a lot of people in jail because of one stupid mistake they've made that has cost them a period of their lives, and a stigma that may be undeserved for the remainder of their days.
Here's a hypothetical situation for you. “Jimmy” and his friends are having a little get-together. There's some drugs and alcohol involved, yes, and he's in there with the rest of them. Somewhere along the line, one of his friends sees a mixed couple walking down the street. Now, “Jimmy's” friend is a racist, so he decides that he doesn't like what he sees. He goes over and starts giving the couple some shit. “Jimmy's” there, as well, maybe he's joining in, maybe he's just hanging back, watching. Doesn't really matter. Things start to degenerate rapidly, and some punches are thrown. The couple are being beaten rather badly, when a policeman happens by the scene. You can imagine what happens next. Well, long hypothetical short, “Jimmy” gets arrested along with his pals, he's tried and convicted, and gets sent to jail. Now, “Jimmy” himself really isn't a bad guy, he just has stupid friends and rotten luck. So, he serves his time, determined that once he gets out, he's going to do whatever it takes to get his life on track and get this whole situation behind him. “So what?” you say. Well, here's the so what for you. “Jimmy” gets released and tries to get himself ahead in life. The only thing standing in his way is the fact that he now has a criminal record that he'll never be able to escape from. He has no right to vote; any job he applies for, he'll have to answer “yes” to, and explain what and why, and let's face it: even if he knows he'll never do something as stupid as this again, how many employers are going to be willing to give him a chance to prove it? And even if, IF, he's lucky enough to get a decent job, who do you think the first person under suspicion will be if someone that works there starts helping themselves to the company property and/or money?
No, the sad fact is, “Jimmy” will most likely be one of the millions of ex-cons before him that were forced back into crime as a way to survive, simply because of one stupid mistake and a label that he'll never be able to escape.
There's no human face attached to a convict, ladies and gentlemen. It's so much easier to write them off as the utter lowest of the low of human society than to say “Look, man, I know you made a mistake, but it looks to me like you've done your time, you've paid your debt, and now you're making a serious effort to improve yourself so you don't go back there again. Good job, and let me help you out here.”
Now, like I said, I know it's not always a case of “one stupid mistake.” Certainly, there are people in prison who need to be there. I definitely wouldn't argue Jeffrey Dahmer should've been given a slap on the wrist and a second chance, nor would I say that Mark David Chapman should be let out with good behavior and be given a bank job.
But there are people on the inside who learn their lesson and want to get away from the person they were when they were imprisoned. They're willing to do whatever it takes to make their lives better, if for no better reason than to make sure they don't go back into prison.
That's why I'm all for the Prisoner Express program. It strikes me that if you're willing to put the past behind you and work towards making yourself a better person, you damn well deserve the benefit of the doubt, probably more so than a lot of people who just coast through life without a closer brush with prison than the “Go directly to jail” square on a Monopoly board. And that's what Prisoner Express is all about. It's not a new program, by any means; it's been around for ten years or so, without much recognition or funding (again... ”Convicts?! Ugh!”, but it IS there, as a service to be provided for those who wish to make the most of their lives. They deserve to be recognized; they deserve to be praised, and most importantly, they deserve to be supported, as do those prisoners who are a part of the program. And you can support it by spreading the word, and by checking out the works in the gallery of this singular site.
My hat's off to Toby, who has been interning with the program, and who brought it to my attention, and I would like to continue this logical chain of thought by bringing it to YOUR attention. Please, take the time check it out, to comment on and critique the work these folks have submitted, and, if you have a few minutes to spare and a favorite poet or two, take the time to write a letter to them. Your kind words may mean the difference between someone giving up in frustration and someone believing in themselves enough to hold on and stick with it. Toby will forward your letters to the poets; and if you're worried about someone getting your address and tracking you down, just put PE as the return address, and you'll be right as rain. Of course, that means OneMoreFreek will have your address, but that's why we pray to God that he never strays to the Dark Side.
Don't be one of the sheeple who says “Convict bad” just because they're a convict. Think back over your life to some of the dumb shit you've done and think “There but for the grace of God go I.” Like me.
Peace and a bottle of hair grease!
Out!