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You’ll be welcomed with open arms,
A warm embrace, no rejection.

“In The Bowels Of”

Woken by the screams of another man’s dream,
Mouth shut tight, horrific visions I have seen.

Knife in hand, do you stay weak or become a man?
Minds struggle to comprehend,
In a place with no existence, no friends.

Louder screams, more intense,
Climb down, stop straddling the fence.

You have shattered the night, now you’re on display.
Come morning, you must find your way.

Confused, in a state of despair,
You can’t breathe, you need some air.

You’re becoming mentally unhinged,
Settle down, think, and dig in.

Nightmares worsen, drowning, dying of thirst.
Hidden demons once submerged,
They should have stayed buried,
But now, it’s time to purge.

“A Way Out”

Heavenly Father, on your knees, you must pray.
Life’s full of misery and pain,
Yet there’s always a brighter day.

The devil will never win if you put up a fight.
Stop struggling within and walk in a different light.

Your mind plays tricks, just another form of deception.
But when you come His way,
You’ll be welcomed with open arms,
A warm embrace, no rejection.

An open mind and a forgiving heart are all you need,
And from that day forward,
I promise you’ll forever succeed.

📬

These stories arrive by mail.

Every month, a physical envelope arrives at your door, postmarked from San Quentin Village, California. Inside, you will find original artwork, writing, and recipes from real contributors, along with a personal letter from me, Diane Kahn, founder of Humans of San Quentin, about the people who made them. You read it. You keep it.

Every piece comes from someone serving a sentence. Every piece reminds you they are so much more than that.

📬 Join the Mail Club

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