excerpts from the book
WRITTEN: Poetry and Prose by Inmates of
His Majesty’s Prisons
St. Vincent & The Grenadines
Gladiate by Junior Jarvis
This is no movie. The blood, sweat, and tears are real. And as they soak the sand where I sit, or stand or lie, They reinforce where I am And who I am. Unceremoniously. Unjustly. Unwittingly Tossed into a ring of hopeless madness With hopeless madmen Like myself, Forced to fight for my right to see another day. Everyday. That’s what I’m fighting for. I fight against lies. Lies perpetrated by unheard voices. They batter and bruise my psyche and my reputation, Or what’s left of them. I fight against jealousy. Jealous ones still envy me Despite the fact that at any moment I can be slain.
Jealous ones who envy what?
My indomitable spirit?
My resilience?
My wisdom? My Betty?
I’m fighting with nothing.
Nothing but my God-given defenses.
I’m belted up, booted up.
Chest plated. Helmeted. Shielded.
I yearn for a sword!
I’m fighting without fear though.
Without fear of what they may think
Or what they may say,
And despite what they may do.
I am a slave, a prisoner, a gladiator.
So, I’ll fight until there’s no more fight left to fight.
You are entertained, aren’t you?
Of course.
That’s why you’re here.
Prison Life by Jason Delpesche
It’s waiting on letters When you’re doing time And your family won’t write Or send you a dime. It’s waiting for visits That never take place From friends and loved ones Who forget your face. It’s hearing them lying And say that they’re trying. It’s making plans with someone You thought you knew; Suddenly their plans change. They don’t include you. It’s hearing them say How much they care; But in time of need They disappear.
It’s hearing them make promises
That go straight to your head
But when push comes to shove
They push out instead.
It’s expressing yourself to people
Who pretend to believe;
But they won’t ever feel your pains,
So pains remain unrelieved.
It’s calling and hearing
There’s a block on the phone.
You must maintain composure
So life goes on alone.
31
Written
It’s really messed up
Doing prison time.
That’s just prison life for you.
Out of sight, out of mind.
