Prison Journalism: From the streets

Prison Journalism: From the streetsJeffrey Shockley is a writer serving a life sentence in the State Correctional Institution-Fayette in Pennsylvania. Read Jeffrey's story from the streets

by Jeffrey Shockley

20-06-2023 10:11

in Prison Journalism

Prison

Image from unsplash

From the streets of a concrete jungle into a concrete box

I now reside inside a prison cell for years longer than I've been alive

I miss the outside for the possibilities of where we should be

Walking free trying to see all there is in life anyone can be

But here I am amid this arid stench that flows and grows

Through the air as painful despair because concerning life, I did not care

I miss walking alone among the crowds, just another heartbeat of society

An unskilled anomaly, struggling in poverty, but today I'm state property

Confined behind chain-link razor-topped fences; Steel benches and armed guard towers

A change of power surrendered by the choices I've made

--

ALSO READ: Prison journalism: When my dad died, I was stuck behind bars

To the errant street hype my life mistakenly I gave, freedoms I've waived

Now, living as I'm told, where doing time is growing old

And can turn the heartbeat iceberg cold

Bitter sweet is missing the freedoms of going wherever to see

Visiting places no one should be, knowing internally

An upstanding citizen, never again going to be

Reminded daily, you'll never be free

ALSO READ: Prison journalism: From father and son to strangers

--

So, what is it now that anyone should strive for?

What I have done too many have cried for; the essence of life still I'll try for

I desire to give honor to the life lost at too high a cost

By my crime of self-medication, displaced aggression and let's not to mention

Pains from childhood unwanted attention

Today I strive to mold into the power of self

While learning the wealth of abilities in me before I did not see

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Using the time and education invested in me

Would I not be a help to society if given the hope of an opportunity?

Is rehabilitation not valid when it pertains to a life taken?

Shall there be no hope for a mind reawakened?

Changed in time, remorseful of this crime

To whom does society want me to be if I'm never going to be free?

While I miss the outside, my cost upon society

Is greater than imagined

--

ALSO READ: Prison journalism: Forgotten Youth

The damages I apologize the more for

Yet knowing can never be repaid

My mistakes past that last into the tomorrows no one's even seen yet

Negating how much better any man can get

But in me I pray some may choose to see

A possibility.

The article was facilitated by Erin Parish from the Human Kindness Foundation (HKF).

The Human Kindness Foundation's mission is to encourage more kindness in the world beginning with people in our prisons and jails.

HKF has published several books including: We're All Doing Time, Lineage and Other Stories, Deep and Simple, and Just Another Spiritual Book and provide these books for free to people currently serving time in prisons or jails.

Do you have any question you would like to ask our prison journalists, WhatsApp us on 060 011 0211

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LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/prison-journalism/prison-journ...
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