Welcome to About Time

About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

Your browser window currently does not have enough height, or is zoomed in too far to view our website content correctly. Once the window reaches the minimum required height or zoom percentage, the content will display automatically.

Alternatively, you can learn more via the links below.

Donations via GiveNow

Email

Instagram

LinkedIn

ISSUE NO. 8

March 2025

Donate Here

Poetry

About Time

By

Storm

Storm writes from Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison in Tasmania.

'Holding Cell 1', by Quang, 2008, 20 x 23cm, acrylic on paper

It's about time, I outline,
the walls we're within.

No doubts fly, no routes fine,
the way I'm living.

I shout, whine, but still I'm
stuck in prison.

Mistakes, lies, of all kinds
that aren't forgiven.

I did lines, my shout guys,
insight went missing.

My fam cries, I got time, charges arisen.

No goodbyes, no wise guys,
at large just wishing.

Chose mob ties, not outcries,
I've been losing my vision.

The cops bite, one more time,
they're ankle nipping.

I got high, now gotta find,
my own remission.

Not guilty, we all cry, there's
no admissions.

Prosecution, all sigh, got 'em
power tripping.

They see nothing we do's right,
that's the stigmatism.

All criminals, all fight, try to
sit and listen.

It's about time to outline, the
truth you're gripping.

I'm trying to shed light on
your firm position.

'Cause we are drowning in blood,
from the law's incisions.

Not all of us are all bad, your
pocket's been pissin’.

Generational trauma, got
some pathways missing.

Some of us, just made some
bad decisions.

Others were in raids, that
our peers positioned.

Of all the charges laid, a lot
of facts went missing.

At the back of the courtroom,
hear the snakes all hissing.

A few are innocent black slaves,
to some cruel traditions.

I'm not gonna lie, some are
plain Kool-Aid sipping.

But the generations born
with stigmas are slipping.

So it's about time, we outline, corruption's given.

To all of mankind, it's time
the subject's risen.

Before more sons and daughters
die in this system.

Or another rise, in rates of recidivism.

I just hope you'll listen, to these words, from RISDON.

It's about time, I outline,
the walls we're within.

No doubts fly, no routes fine,
the way I'm living.

I shout, whine, but still I'm
stuck in prison.

Mistakes, lies, of all kinds
that aren't forgiven.

I did lines, my shout guys,
insight went missing.

My fam cries, I got time, charges arisen.

No goodbyes, no wise guys,
at large just wishing.

Chose mob ties, not outcries,
I've been losing my vision.

The cops bite, one more time,
they're ankle nipping.

I got high, now gotta find,
my own remission.

Not guilty, we all cry, there's
no admissions.

Prosecution, all sigh, got 'em
power tripping.

They see nothing we do's right,
that's the stigmatism.

All criminals, all fight, try to
sit and listen.

It's about time to outline, the
truth you're gripping.

I'm trying to shed light on
your firm position.

'Cause we are drowning in blood,
from the law's incisions.

Not all of us are all bad, your
pocket's been pissin’.

Generational trauma, got
some pathways missing.

Some of us, just made some
bad decisions.

Others were in raids, that
our peers positioned.

Of all the charges laid, a lot
of facts went missing.

At the back of the courtroom,
hear the snakes all hissing.

A few are innocent black slaves,
to some cruel traditions.

I'm not gonna lie, some are
plain Kool-Aid sipping.

But the generations born
with stigmas are slipping.

So it's about time, we outline, corruption's given.

To all of mankind, it's time
the subject's risen.

Before more sons and daughters
die in this system.

Or another rise, in rates of recidivism.

I just hope you'll listen, to these words, from RISDON.

Falling Like Angels

By Daniel

The pain that I feel, this place that I’m in, these four walls closing in…

Creative

ISSUE NO. 23

2 MIN READ

As This Time Comes to an End

By Punkin

As this time comes to an end, I wonder which way the next will bend. The earth and moon will do their thing, I’ll embrace everything.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 23

2 MIN READ

‘God, I Am Deeply Sorry’: A Poem for the Prisoners We’ve Lost

By Triste

To all the prisoners who have ever spent time away from the ones they love.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 23

1 MIN READ

‘Tingers’ and the Squirrel Box

By Sara

In Creative Learning we get to see some amazing stuff made by talented people. The best part is hearing the stories behind how creative projects have come to life.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 23

2 MIN READ

Help Us Keep Publishing About Time

Without About Time, I don’t know where I would be – Mark, from a prison in Victoria

We need your help so that we can print and distribute the paper to every person in every prison for at least the next year. We value whatever you can spare, no matter how big or small.

Australia’s prison population is growing, and our many prisons are spread far and wide.

We need your help so that we can print and distribute the paper to every person in every prison for at least the next year. We need your help to cover postage for anyone who sends us a letter from the inside.

We value whatever you can spare, no matter how big or small.