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

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ISSUE NO. 20

March 2026

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Poetry

I Hate You, Crystal Meth

By

Mackenzie

Mackenzie writes from a prison in WA.

'No Medication for You When Problems Arise at the Clinic' by Jamie, 2014, acrylic on canvas, available on Boom Gate Gallery

Hate’s a strong word,

But for you it’s reserved.

I hate what you’ve taken from me,

My parents, my childhood and my glee.

Now all but a simply a distant memory.

The destruction you’ve caused,

Without even touching my lips,

Is so great, it’s not fair.

You’ve taken everything and left me in despair.

I live in constant fear, that you’ll take him too,

I just don’t know what else I can do.

Your grip is so strong, but he’s the love of my life,

Will it be you or I who becomes his wife?

I hate you, I do.

More than words can express,

For all the damage you’ve caused,

To those I know best.

I absolutely hate you, Crystal Meth.

Hate’s a strong word,

But for you it’s reserved.

I hate what you’ve taken from me,

My parents, my childhood and my glee.

Now all but a simply a distant memory.

The destruction you’ve caused,

Without even touching my lips,

Is so great, it’s not fair.

You’ve taken everything and left me in despair.

I live in constant fear, that you’ll take him too,

I just don’t know what else I can do.

Your grip is so strong, but he’s the love of my life,

Will it be you or I who becomes his wife?

I hate you, I do.

More than words can express,

For all the damage you’ve caused,

To those I know best.

I absolutely hate you, Crystal Meth.

This
piece
was originally printed in the
March 2026
edition of About Time.

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Here’s a little rhyme. As I’m chilling doing time, paying the price for my crime.

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They talked to us about our struggles, their words we could not hear, while being condemned and held accountable; our vision was not clear.

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Creative

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1 MIN READ