Life in Prison

Life in Prison

A Poem by John Byrd

I am like a fortress

you can’t tell what’s going on inside of me

I like to keep it all in

overflowing

my cup runneth over

but I lock it in the cellar

I gave my thoughts time in prison

but they committed no crimes...

 

Maybe I’m scared

People will run away from me.

Look at me like I’m a monster.

So I play Jekyll and Hyde.

But I’m only Hyde in the shadows.

Only I see him emerge.

A dark hideous creature

Or it could just be my imagination….

 

I think I’m scared

Of getting too close to people.

So if I lose them it won’t hurt so much.

Always prepared for loses instead of gains.

Maybe someone will mean a lot to me

And I won’t lose them.

Every woman I let get close to me and trust in

Leaves…

 

I have only opened up to them

And these cell walls I mark up

With my pain and fears.

They have visitation rights

To the jail cell.

They only visit, they never stay.

The women are temporary.

The cell walls lasts forever…

© 2014 John Byrd


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This was really good! I'm not a poetry expert, so I'm pretty useless critique wise. I didn't see anything grammatical or technical typo wise that stood out to me.
I did think the line "Always prepared for loses instead of gains." was particularly riveting, because I feel as though most people are that way without even having to be in such a precarious situation.
I had to read this a couple of times because the wording was incredible. Probably one of the better poems I have read on here. Well done! :)



Posted 9 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

John Byrd

9 Years Ago

Thank you! You're review really makes me feel good :)
'But they only visit because they never stay too long'. (in order to make this line more precise, I'd omit a couple words.

'They only visit, they never stay'

or

'but, they only visit, the never stay'.

I enjoyed you metaphor: thoughts, expression, emotions locked away, kept tight, paroled for short periods, before institutionalism takes effect and you find yourself back behind the walls of your own mind and heart.

Posted 9 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

John Byrd

9 Years Ago

Thank you very much! I agree with the feedback and changed that part. Your review was very helpful.

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Added on August 18, 2014
Last Updated on September 5, 2014
Tags: Thoughts

Author

John Byrd
John Byrd

Detroit, MI



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