Whats A Prisoner to Do?
What's a prisoner to do when justice fails
and the innocent is escorted off to jail?
What's a prisoner to do once stigmatized,
caged and abandoned and ostracized?
What's a prisoner to do there's no one to trust;
the system fails and the outcome unjust?
What's a prisoner to do when family decide
the punishment is warranted and justified?
What's a prisoner to do while confined in a cell;
the perpetrator's free and faring quite well?
What's a prisoner to do once his reputation is dead
and his life has been ruined because of what someone said?
What's a prisoner to do when he's not believed,
though he's telling the truth, he's thought to deceive?
What's a prisoner to do as he sits all alone,
no one seems to care; former friends all gone?
What's a prisoner to do sitting lost and idle
and most of one's thoughts become suicidal?
What's a prisoner to do when freedom's taken away
and the will to live diminishes each day?
What's a prisoner to do when hedged in by strife;
with no escape possible; no chance for a new life?
What's a prisoner to do when he can no longer see
the beauty of the sky or the waves of the sea?
What's a prisoner to do when the sun he can't feel,
nor the breeze of spring because his fate is sealed?
What's a prisoner to do when doomed to despair
but still praying to escape the electric chair?
Tell me, what's a prisoner to do?
Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available in July.
You are welcome to visit AMEN Ministries: Your Souls' service Station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification or to browse our newly expanded mini shopping mall. http://www.clergyservices4u.org.
Blessings to all!
MORE RESOURCES:
 findingDulcinea | Bards at the Inaugural Gates Wall Street Journal - Ms. Alexander comes from a political and academic family and is a champion of politically engaged poetry. Her father, Clifford L. Alexander Jr., ... Elizabeth Alexander, President-elect Obama’s inaugural poet |
Poetry reading to honor Paul Cuffe SouthCoastToday.com, MA - To mark the 250th anniversary of his birth, there will be a poetry reading in the "Ocean Voices" series, 7 pm Jan. 13, at New Bedford's Ocean Explorium. ... Hoagland to give reading at explorium |
FREE AND CHEAP / Memorial poetry reading for John Stone Atlanta Journal Constitution, USA - A free poetry reading at Callanwolde will celebrate the life and work of John Stone, an Atlanta physician well-known for achieving balance between science ... |
Tucson weekend: Wooden Ball, Craig Ferguson, poetry slam and reggae Arizona Daily Star, AZ - Spoken-word competitors will step to the mic at 7 pm Saturday for Ocotillo Poetry Slam’s “The Coronation Slam.” Featuring JW Baz and hosted by reigning slam ... |
Pelham Library Announces Political Poetry Prize Contest Westchester.com, NY - Pelham, NY - The James J. Nicholson Political Poetry Prize enters its second year with a new judge and an expanded contest. There will be three competitions ... |
Edmundson's January Term Class Offers the Gift of Poetry University of Virginia, VA - January 9, 2009 — It takes only seven days to begin to learn to read poetry well, said University of Virginia English professor Mark Edmundson. ... |
Students sought for poetry contest Statesman Journal, OR - SALEM — Students 5 to 18 years old may enter Mission Mill Museum's fifth annual Victorian Valentine's Day Poetry Contest, part of the museum's celebration ... |
 New York Daily News | Gloomy Poetry: Governor does his best with a disheartening message The Post-Standard - Syracuse.com, NY - David Paterson tried to stir them Wednesday with poetry and calls for shared sacrifice. At the start of his meticulously memorized, hour-long speech, ... Governor Says New York Is in a Perilous Situation If only Paterson's plan was as good as his fancy words A call for greatness |
KTRU pick of the week: Poetry on Record: 98 Poets Read Their Work The Rice Thresher, TX - Poetry on Record features a diverse collection of poetry on four discs chock full of readings by the poets themselves. The poetry ranges from incomplete ... |
Verse & Harmony: An Evening of Open Mic Poetry & Music Newspaper Tree, TX - Bring your poetry, songs, music instruments (with 1/4" cord if applicable), friends and good karma. A PA is provided. ... |
Poetry - Google News
The Gaul of La Laguna de Paca
Part OneI tell you a legend of long agoOf the sunken city of La Laguna de Paca,(Where I had met a lingering ghost)Within this region of Huancayo--Peru;Truth lies, but only the soul knows.Part TwoSo the legend goes, of long ago:During the rising of the full moonThe Mermaid of La Laguna de Paca, appearsAnd to the nearby towns folks, she echoes.
Changes
I am not the one I was before yesterday.I cannot go back.
The Exit Poems [Iron and Fire & No Heroes]
The Exit Poems [And Socrates]Iron and FireIron can be soften by fire-grows hard in the cold;and all the gates thereinare, as it was, closed again.So, often are those misled?by luxury and pride,who push humility aside-:thus, redemption their vanityand perfection their virtue?and in the end, they all collided.
Stones
As I picked up some of the polished gemstones in the rock store I began to think about what the stones looked like before they were polished. The store had several rocks on display showing the before and after and I realized that unless you knew what you were looking for, you could easily pass by a valuable gemstone.
Antidotes for an Alibi
Amy King's first full-length collection, Antidotes for an Alibi, insists that we examine the deceptive clarity of our actions and the goals that motivate us. How does one actually get from "A" to "B"-and is there ever really a "B"? What color is the white space between "A" and "B"? Upon closer inspection, surface realities reveal themselves to be porous and fragile, layered with textures and grains that lead the eye on varying pathways.
Life is a Fantasy
LIFE IS A FANTASY!A pink-eyed rabbit, fuzzy whiteHops in bedrooms filled with frightA child of six with much to knowHer father's basest feelings showShe knows of LOVE, only through himHe satisfies his every whimHe leaves, she wipes himfrom her chin!Her mother NEEDS to see the bestHe answered her God requestTo have a roof to comfort bringA yard where all the birdies singTell me how she could really knowWhat source for learning could she go?Her mother regularly beaten if not worseThe cycle of violence - a woman's curseConflicting visions, dependenciesOne can endure many idiosyncrasiesShe could not make him defendant beDenial, avoidance? she disbelievesThe rabbit hides beneath tall trees.At thirteen a step-grandfatha'Finds a well-trained girl that oughta'Do what powerful men requestNever knowing what is bestAnd run away she does at lastFreedom can be such a 'blast'A rabbit's foot upon a chainThe FANTASY her 'safe' domainHow long in life must it remain?To protect her from these menWho always for her lips, do 'yen'A state trooper in Tennessee Like every other man does see Her lips so full and luscious red Through the bars, not in a bed.
Walt Whitman, Romance With a Stranger
The concept of brief encounters, even romantic encounters, with a stranger recurs often in the verses of Walt Whitman.Take, for example, these lines from one of the inscriptions that Whitman wrote to his 1860 edition of Leaves of Grass.
Anne Bradstreet, To My Dear and Loving Husband, A Discussion
"To My Dear and Loving Husband" was written by America's first female poet, the Puritan, Anne Bradstreet. In fact, Anne Bradstreet is one of only a handful of female American poets during the first 200 years of America's history.
Five Poems from Home [And a view on the planet vs. the poet]
Five Poems from Home1) Remembering: Dorothy Parker[Dedicated to the 1920s Poetess]Let it be said, Dorothy Parker lies dead,cremated to ash and poetry; thus,she died at the ripe old ageof seventy-three-.The tiny woman with a big mouth, who got caught in the rain and couldn't get out:continued to play the game,all the same, like drops of rainupon a pane.
Tsunami -a Poem Dedicated To Help Aid and Awareness and Encourage Future Harmony. Make Peace Not War
Real Power.One Tsunami, and all our armies,Seem belittled by their wars,What Animals fled, and tribesmen read,Finally Arrives with crushing roar,Wholesale slaughter, purely by water,Makes us seem an irrelevance,Concepts of power, change by the hour,Faced with primal elements.
Never Ever More
Once upon a midnight dreary, coffee cold and vision bleary, all night sat there writing COBOL, coding spread across the bed sheets, changing syntax for the mainframe,having checked my final line, I took the floppy from the drive.Typing with a steady hand,I then invoked the SAVE command,but there below my effectuation,appeared the cryptic communication,"Abort, Retry, Ignore" and nothing more.
A Dose of Laughter
I'm not well. Can't you tell? Kinda low, so,give me a dose of laughter.
Feelings, O How Glorious!
Sometimes we feel hard-pressed, Our backs against the wall; Sometimes we feel lightheaded, As if we are going to fall.Sometimes we feel fierce angerAt those who misuse guns; Sometimes we feel ashamedOf how we treat God's little ones.
Ocean Heal Me
Ocean Heal MeOcean heal my woundsLet your waves curl and foam on my bodyWash away blood, heal scarsOcean renew me with your powerAs unceasingly you rollGiving strength that's been drainedOcean keep me warmWrap me in your brineCaress me with your tidesOcean disperse my tearsAs they flow in youI cleanse my soulOcean let me grow in your depthsColor me vibrant blue, coral, greenClear = revitalizedOcean your spray anoints meCool and refreshedMy spiritual renewalOcean be my friendHold me flowing in your currentsEver moving, ever changingOcean, heal me. 1983 Susan BaconSusan Bacon is a researcher, author and teacher.
Find the Magic
FIND the MAGICFind the MagicAs you release old bondage Come out of hidingAnd see the starsFind the MagicAs you expose the painLet the tears flowAnd find beauty in your bodyFind the MagicAs you scream from the beatingRun from the threatsAnd feel the warmth of a hugFind the MagicAs the little girl is silencedTold she is too smart for her own goodAnd she finds her place of honor as she speaks her mindFind the MagicAs the ghosts creep into dreamHaunt your daily lifeAnd you meet them at the crossroads and move onFind the MagicAs you drift out of your body, avoiding the angerObserve the separationAnd you join the body temple once again to rejoice in this unique wonderFind the MagicAs you listen to the conflicts andWatch in horrorAnd emerge from the water whole and beautiful in a rainbow of colorsFind the Magic, For you are whole once again 2004 Susan BaconSusan Bacon is an researcher, teacher and author. Contact her through her web site http://www.
Recollections
I AM SO GRATEFUL for simpler times.Stores were closed on Sundays,TV shows seemed to make more sense,Family members spent ample time with each other,And people were valued more than things.
Because of You
You are to me my lifelinemy security.That scares me.
Infected Ideologies [a Poetic Portrait]
the disease of extremismis infectious-;whoever cannot think oftheir childgrowing up without itis part of the phenomenon! (the choice of the day).fanaticism,--with a powerful ideologyare seeds for suicide!murder: givingreasons to rage!.
Two Poems: San Jeronimo Brook & [in English and Spanish]
Fair Andes! Thy arms reach highOf iron-woven solid stoneThu art a condor to the skyOf glory hidden in thy heartSo many paths, a maze of art?In thy old, Mantaro ValleyWhere adobes, breathe and trembleBeyond your rustic shadowsThere lays the prettiest of brooksIs my heart, within its stream!My image deeply carved, rippledIn its undiluted shallow watersWaiting, just waiting for me?As it opens up, opens up my soulMy rippled soul-searching-eyes!..
Footprints to Mantaro Valley (a poem in Spanish and English)
Footprints to Mantaro Valley(English version)In what retreat art hid?-Where falling mountains groanIn shadow and amongThe rapids of the Rio?Is not your name Mantaro Valley?Beyond the footprints of the Andes--?I can hear your voice in echoesI can hear thy voice, divinely low.I do but know thy by a glanceAs the clouds above me know? .
