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.
By Daniel

I wrote this song when I started my sentence in June 2026.

ISSUE NO. 26
3 MIN READ
By Leonor

Somebody’s Daughter Theatre offers women within the prison system in Victoria, the opportunity to participate in weekly art workshops.

ISSUE NO. 26
2 MIN READ
By Martin

I’m a rapper and I thought I’d share one of the songs I’ve written.

ISSUE NO. 26
3 MIN READ
By Martin

I felt compelled to contribute so here follows a few submissions for your consideration.

ISSUE NO. 26
1 MIN READ
Get All the Latest News From About Time in Your Inbox

Be the first to read each edition online and receive two newsletters each month filled with news stories, experiences, creativity and the voices of people in prison around the country.

X

X

You've successfully registered!
Something went wrong when we tried to register your details. Please try again.