COMING BACK HOME: Poems on Leaving Prison

Wipf and Stock Publishers of Eugene, Oregon have agreed to the publication of "Coming Back Home: Poems on Leaving Prison." I will co author and edit the book. The introduction and the first section of poems will be from my pen, while the remainder of the book will be from prisoners and prisoner support teams.

The idea that there is a line around a prison that somehow delineates those who are free from those who are not is somehow just a conventionally accepted interpretation by society. In fact, you do not have to be in a prison to be a prisoner. The concept of being imprisoned stretches beyond the confines of a fence and wall. As does the concept of freedom.

In spotlighting the theme of COMING BACK HOME I hope to accomplish an unveiling of just such themes as identified above. The project came to me one night after spending almost half a class (my weekly poetry class in Monroe County Correctional) talking about fences, walls and what makes people free with the students in the prison. I heard that final door close and lock behind me and a line was born: "Just because you hear the locking of the door - behind you as you leave the prison walls -does not mean that you are free."

So much of the conversation that night - and other nights - revolved around what parts of our lives are free and what parts are captive - and to WHAT. The depth of writing and conversation on the inside of those walls is often profound. It must be heard.

100% of the project proceeds will go to a local not-for-profit that contributes a majority of its efforts to re-entry into society.

The poem I wrote that night:

Hidden

A stillness

lies hidden

just beyond the

beyond.

A step further than

you feel like you

can drag yourself

along.

You must push

yourself through

to the other side,

but it is

there -

always there.

Waiting for you

to enter.

And,

you do not.

Just because

you hear the locking

of the door -

behind you

as you leave

the prison walls -

does not mean

that you

are

free.

Enter

the stillness

spread out

in front of you

and all

around -

EVERYWHERE.

Then,

you can

cry

FREE.