'74 New Moon

'74 New Moon, 560 square foot prison

Living? on the other side – on the inside

Avocado green cell

Permanent stains on linoleum

Broken screen door

     illusions of escape

Children playing, nightmares screaming

     hope     Despair

          absolution     Pain

               futures         Empty lies

     to myself

Midnight dreams

silent screams

dim light through curtains sullied

     tears

     time 

Control grasped with finger tips in the darkness

     cut     burn     bruise

          razor tells the story

          lighter claims the failure

          iron punctuates the claim

Jailer and convict, one and the same

Self punishment for failure

Life sentence in an avocado green cell