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

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ISSUE NO. 7

February 2025

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Poetry

Give Me Hope

By

Joshua

Joshua was formerly incarcerated in Victorian prisons.

'Hugs & Kisses' by Tiger, available to purchase from Boom Gate Gallery

Alone in a world of darkness and pain

The world there outside, I don't see the rain

Is the sun shining brightly? I really don't know

There's no place to turn and nowhere to go

Moments of madness can quickly turn bad

Anger, frustration and a need to feel sad

Tears fill my eyes, my emptiness exposed

Thoughts are with loved ones that I long to hold

Time here is volatile, no longer my own

A drive to the shops, or a chat on the phone

No longer a privilege in what I say or do

My life is so fragile, in how time sees me through

My two grandchildren, I just long to see

Wanting to hug them and hold them to me

I'm angry inside and I feel such pain

My emotions run high again and again

Someone please help me, it's getting harder to cope

Dear Lord up above, please give me some hope

Free me from this torment and show me the light

I'm broken, I'm battered, no more can I fight

Alone in a world of darkness and pain

The world there outside, I don't see the rain

Is the sun shining brightly? I really don't know

There's no place to turn and nowhere to go

Moments of madness can quickly turn bad

Anger, frustration and a need to feel sad

Tears fill my eyes, my emptiness exposed

Thoughts are with loved ones that I long to hold

Time here is volatile, no longer my own

A drive to the shops, or a chat on the phone

No longer a privilege in what I say or do

My life is so fragile, in how time sees me through

My two grandchildren, I just long to see

Wanting to hug them and hold them to me

I'm angry inside and I feel such pain

My emotions run high again and again

Someone please help me, it's getting harder to cope

Dear Lord up above, please give me some hope

Free me from this torment and show me the light

I'm broken, I'm battered, no more can I fight

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.