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

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ISSUE NO. 9

April 2025

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Poetry

Freedom Flight

By

Joshua

Joshua was formerly incarcerated in five different prisons in Victoria.

‘The Club’, by Zig, 2001, acrylic on canvas, Boom Gate Gallery

I stand at my door and watch the birds

As they spread their wings and fly

Oh how wonderful my life would be

If I could fly so high

I'd peruse the vacant skyline

Before I take to flight

Feel the magic as the soft winds blow

As I rise up, to a soaring height

As I glide through the heavenly clouds

And gaze at the distant earth below

My freedom has never felt grander

And my soul has a peaceful, inner glow

Flying high across the valleys

The mountains, rivers and trees

Not concerned where my journey takes me

To have the freedom of “shooting the breeze”

In the distance I see a large building

It's where I'll take refuge for the night

Flying down I look for a landing

To rest my weary body, from its flight

In an instant my body jolts and I awaken

I sit up and my blood runs pale

Rubbing my eyes, I realise I've been dreaming

Oh dear God, I'm still locked up in jail!

I stand at my door and watch the birds

As they spread their wings and fly

Oh how wonderful my life would be

If I could fly so high

I'd peruse the vacant skyline

Before I take to flight

Feel the magic as the soft winds blow

As I rise up, to a soaring height

As I glide through the heavenly clouds

And gaze at the distant earth below

My freedom has never felt grander

And my soul has a peaceful, inner glow

Flying high across the valleys

The mountains, rivers and trees

Not concerned where my journey takes me

To have the freedom of “shooting the breeze”

In the distance I see a large building

It's where I'll take refuge for the night

Flying down I look for a landing

To rest my weary body, from its flight

In an instant my body jolts and I awaken

I sit up and my blood runs pale

Rubbing my eyes, I realise I've been dreaming

Oh dear God, I'm still locked up in jail!

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.