Poetry
Poetry is an allegory that tells no tales. It has no race or gender, no ego or attitude. Poetry is neither big, tall, short or small. Most of all poetry allows various incarcerated men and women to express their pain, their visions and their remorse with a meek and humble approach. Humans of San Quentin would like to share their poems with our readers. Give us your feedback and please, tell a friend. We hope you allow us to open our hearts and share our poetry with you.
Please enjoy the poems below,
Alex – Poetry Director
“Bury Us” by Jose
Bury us in a sunless pit of obscurity,
Imprisoning flaws mercilessly,
Isolating guardrails which hold us back,
Guardrails on the wrong path, journeys on the wrong track
Suitable circumstances reveal opportunity.
“Freedom” by Darryl
They got my body not my brain
I still got the freedom of thought
Tried to break the chain
But you can’t lead if you lost
“Raindrops” by Ubaldo
Raindrops camouflage tears
Raindrops let one know if it’s a scattered shower or storm.
“American Me” by Ubaldo
As a child I hid inside of myself
My allies books & homework, it took
Me a while shift & whirl English.
“The End?” by Alyce
Lakes dying, drought reigns
Tindras melt, oceans warming
Mountains quake, earth slides
“Inmate’s Lament” by Alyce
Dilapidated dorms, cloistered court yards
Wrinkled sidewalks, rutted roads, pit holes thump
Squawking doors, crunching windows- toilets rage
Locks explode, hints of freedom, clacking keys
“The Beat Within” by Osbun
My Dearest Brotherly Beloved David,
Sitting here listening to some smooth soulful jazz of David Sanborn “Pearls.”
I am reminded of our Reneverance
no words nor actions could express.
“Bout Time” by James
In the time it takes for time to pass you by
Time in the blink of an eye
For when your eyes close time still thrives
“Somebody Lied to Us” by Gerald
They told us selling drugs was the way to go.
Get money and share with your boys,
you spread unity.
What they didn’t tell us
was that we’d be killing our community.
“By the Grace of God” by Manuel
My heart’s been shattered. I’ve been beaten and tossed.
Like a tiny pebble drifting to the bottom of a pond.
I’ve fallen from Heaven
and I’ve walked through Hell.
“Freedom is Taking Too Long” by Charles
I take full responsibility for the crimes I committed
Developed insight into why I did wrong
But the fact of the matter is
Freedom is taking too long.
“Take That to the Bank” by Cory
For so troubled is he,
But his soul is free.
With Faith and a smile
He comes smooth with style.
Even though stuck behind bars,
Still has hope to see the stars.
“Pain” by Candice
If pain was a person,
Then I would be her
All this madness in my head,
I’m searching for a cure
Through smoke, coke and injections,
It’s my family that I’m affecting
“Dog-Faced Killer” by Paul
Paul, 64Incarcerated: 20 yearsHoused: San Quentin State Prison Dog-Faced Killer My yesterdays are gone Never to be relived Except as memories As any other fantasies Post-traumatic tragedies Born...
“Pain of a Villain” by David
David, 26Incarcerated: 4 yearsHoused: Augusta Correctional Center, Craigsville, Virginia Pain of a Villain I take medication to forget about the past Open seats Remind me of a lot of things I been...
“My Existence” and “If I Were A Book” by Jeffery
Jeffery, 60Incarcerated: 23 yearsHoused: Fayette County Prison, Pennsylvania My ExistenceWhat does it mean to exist?To live inside confines designed to remind you who you are, dream of who someone...
“Eternity” by Richard
Incarcerated: 8 years Housed: Clallam Bay Correctional Center, Washington Eternity A gleam of life in clouds of grey reveals a breath of heaven is but a moment away.
“Why We Dance Our Prayers” and “The Rooms We Build In Our House” by White Eagle
Why We Dance Our Prayers When we dance to the drum, we pray to the creatorand attract the Heartbeat of Mother Earthwe call it Turtle Island.We never dance without reason,every dance has a purpose.We...