“Prison Does” (A Poem for Safira)

Prison does more than confine the body; it may pervert the mind,

and prove effective at caging the heart and all it may contain of hope, ambitions, desires, aspirations, fear, and intrigue.

If love is an inclination to that which is best for you,

then prison will hasten you en route, while indifferent to endure.

It fashions illusions through tightly woven threads of deprivation.

Prison neither dares nor threatens the heart against engendering anything

it only assures grief to the heart which dares.

Rather, prison is fuel, an impetus to procreate,

as it simultaneously dangles the hindrance of such.

It cloaks beauty via uniforms, customs and costumes

and reveals ugly due to costume uniformity.

Prison does perfect distance between the bearer of and the product of, the rib.

It erects impediments, yet post awareness of abilities where none previously stood.

It attempts to asphyxiate aspirations; yet it cannot supplant assiduous supplications coupled with efforts.

Nor can it keep out those who want to get in.

Prison does delude them to think they are, because we were…

We will be…

Despite what…

Prison does…

Written by Raymond A. Rasheed Wallace, M.P.S.