Black Poetry : Penitentiary UP

[aqueenpassing]

This is dedicated to my brother in Prison and who has been there off and on all his life since he was 15 he is now 43. Has been incarcerated for the last 17 years.


For those of you who do not know what it is like in the inside isolated from all those you love, freedom taken away because of foolish mistakes made some worst then others and some that could never be forgiven by anyone except God alone.

First thing in the morning you have to WAKE UP!
then you have to GET UP! and then you LINE UP!
before TIME IS UP! before you get your meds, you
have to WALK UP! before you get your money
you have to SIGN UP! before you get your mail they
have to BRING IT UP! if you try to have some fun
they tell you that you are talking to loud and if you
don’t SHUT UP! you will be WRITTEN UP! and then
you will be taken to LOCK UP! unless they decide
you are too rowdy and then they will LOCK DOWN!
when you go out to the yard to try to KICK IT UP!
almost everyday somebody gonna get BEAT UP!
on the last day of the UP! when your time is UP! they
tell you there sorry your paper work is MESSED UP!
once you get out if you MESS UP! you’re going to
get sent back UP!.

It seems that by now brothers and sisters would get the
message that the system is F…UP! and they have to
stop SNORTING UP! and ROCKING UP! quit doing
things wrong stop giving UP! and start LOOKING UP! to
God and get PUMPED UP! by hope and determination to
make it in this world and change the circumstances, throw
in the hand you were dealt and get a new deck of cards better
yet get a new dealer and start STANDING UP! now that is
WORD UP!

Copyright by Yvonne Coleman-Burney (Queen) 2002

 

[$$RICH$$]

well felt too truely most of know how it is inside as members locked away!

we all have to wake up to reality and get our head right.

 

[Legacy21]

This is truth thrown in the face, and peeps need to pay attention. It's time out for our brothers being imprisoned and we as members of Black communities all over America allow our children to go down wayward paths. They are our responsibilty collectively. Survival of the fittest does not apply to us, because if one falls, we all fall, and we have to stand together. Tired of hearing this story over and over, this is a reality check, and sista I thank you for the reminder that I have not done enough yet to help counteract this situation. May we all find salvation and a better way to live our lives, and not give them to the damned system!

 

[k0k0]

****, talk about a WAKE UP call. i thank my creator daily for guiding me along in life, because i know if it hadn't been for his steering me in the right direction..that poem would be about me.

nice read...

 

[UL820]

this TRUTH speaks to my HEART, THANK YOU FOR THIS READ

 

[aqueenpassing]

"Thanks Fam"

Thanks to everyone who commented on this write, for the love and support. We as black people need to use our voices, talent and what ever means necessary to make a difference, get some attention at least stir the minds of our children. I think that is my main motivation for writing, I remember where I came from and how hard it was to make it through. But God is good and still on the throne. "WORD UP"

Peace to you all
Hugs
Queen

 

[Lovelee]

I stop and pray for the "Prison Bound" everyday. I have friends and family that didnt listen to the WAKEUP call and are now residents in the BELLY OF THE BEAST!!!

 

[PositiveMindset]

Queen, this one really touched me...

So very true.

Peace.

 

[aqueenpassing]

Thanks PM
It is a deep one and one that is real for me and my brother....

Be blessed
Queen

 

[NittyGrit]

many a person would WAKE UP
if they could read this
before their minds were incarcerated
and their lives
institutionalized

Excellent work!!!

NittyGritt RedddClay