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

Donate Here

Poetry

Broke My Heart

By

Mahina

Mahina writes from Numinbah Correctional Centre in Queensland.

Fleur via Unsplash

Being in jail has given me time to think,

As I lay in my bed and slowly sink,

It’s given me time to reflect on my past,

And think back to a time that just would’ve lasted,

Not a day passes by where you’ve not crossed my mind,

When I needed you the most it was you I couldn’t find,

I will never forgive you for the way you treated me,

All the repeated lies, hurt and misery,

You could never understand just how bad you broke my heart,

You left me to question my own actions as I slowly fell apart,

I thought we were unbreakable, I thought we were a team,

But you being with someone else I now know what this means,

I must learn to focus on myself, and understand self-love,

And finally actually put myself first because enough is now enough.

Being in jail has given me time to think,

As I lay in my bed and slowly sink,

It’s given me time to reflect on my past,

And think back to a time that just would’ve lasted,

Not a day passes by where you’ve not crossed my mind,

When I needed you the most it was you I couldn’t find,

I will never forgive you for the way you treated me,

All the repeated lies, hurt and misery,

You could never understand just how bad you broke my heart,

You left me to question my own actions as I slowly fell apart,

I thought we were unbreakable, I thought we were a team,

But you being with someone else I now know what this means,

I must learn to focus on myself, and understand self-love,

And finally actually put myself first because enough is now enough.

This
piece
was originally printed in the
June 2025
edition of About Time.

Lanie's Painting

By Lanie

A painting sent to us by Lanie.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 25

1 MIN READ

Dan’s Drawing

By Dan

A drawing of Stitch from Lilo and Stitch, sent to us by Dan.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 25

1 MIN READ

Self Reflection

By Sofia

Often I try to self-reflect which turns into waves of rings around me. This picture reflects my days in general; life is static, surrounded by waves around.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 25

1 MIN READ

Beyond the Steel Mesh

By Anonymous

The cage stands bold, with its steel-clad mesh. For within its grip, it’s us it holds. Ten foot walls, of cold creme concrete. For outside we muster, like horses in stalls.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 25

2 MIN READ