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.
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Poetry By Jeffery
Twas The Night Before Count Time ’Twas the night before Christmas, and all along the tier, Not a soul was stirring, ’cause incidentally the CERT¹…
Cell Time by Lee Roy
I smell a rose in the melody of freedom and hope. Cell Time As I sit in my cell, I wonder. I wonder about my…
Michael, 47
It’s powerful to see young Black men rise from struggle to success. That’s God. I am 35 from East Palo Alto, California, with the ability…
Poetry by Stewart
The fact that you are there Outside these walls and that you care Makes my burden easier to bear I see you And understand how…
Poetry by Tommy Lee
You’re the reason I drink the nectar of life. I Can’t Call You Barb I cannot call you Barb. This is something I simply cannot…
Poetry by Eliazar
Held Captive I know I've been distracted. Some of my thoughts have taken me captive. But I'm lost and I don't understand it happens. Father,…
Poetry by Sammie
No matter how much self help you take, you still have to understand the why. I'm really big on childhood trauma, and as I get…
Poetry by George “Mesro”
I wrote this because mental health is a real thing. I wrote this because mental health is a real thing. And sometimes it gets lost…
Poetry by Sinmyah
“A Human Me” Hurt and fed up… 😞 Pity… Words stuck… A mirror on the wall. Look… 👁️ I take “a pause”... Fear! Oh my!…
Poetry by Lee Roy
When I had this vision of freedom, I thought about the ocean and the water, being a place where it’s peaceful and quiet. “My Life”…
Poetry by Tony
Invacuation-19 The electric buzz smacks my consciousness, Shocking me from a languid television trance. Its ear-piercing hum bombards my senses. Invades my cell, Floods the…
Poetry by Charles
And given the right circumstances They can begin To grow together again GROWTH I have seen two people who were growing together Begin to grow…
Poetry by Kunta
The whole world movin’ forward, And the only one left is me. For a Day I was born in chains, Spent my life being directed…
Poetry by Montrice
= Because this race we call life, you know it can last a long time. Being Left behind can be a blessing. You see, that…
Poetry by Katherine
I move with the current in which I find myself. Understand Me Through My Emotions Inside Prison I’ve come to understand why I feel at…
Poetry by Jarvis
If you’re living your street dream, do what you do. But whatever you do— don’t let your street dream live you. I’ve been incarcerated since…
Poetry by Vantwan
The Devil & My Power They say the devil has no power unless you give it to him. But who is the devil, really, when…
Poetry by Kai
I want to share a poem with you that I wrote a couple of years ago. I was still dealing with the pain and grief…
Poetry by Verne
To enter this realm requires certainty in faith and belief, anchored in His promised word. As I sit in deep, questioning contemplation, I am not…
Poetry By Cornell
Through the storm, let love’s light reign. Standing in my way, standing in my way, Looking in the mirror, this is what I say. Hard…
