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

I'll Never Come to Prison Again

By

Joseph B

Joseph writes from a prison in the United Kingdom.

Markus Spiske

If I could dress it up and say I never felt better

That I’ve got a girl at home and I’m waiting for a letter

I’d pretend the kids are fine and doing well at school

And when I phone they say they miss me

And they think their daddy’s cool

That I work away from home

So I can buy them toys for Christmas

And when it’s time to go 

We blow each other tender kisses

I’m lying in my bed, staring at the ceiling

Thinking: I’ll never come to prison again.

If I could write a book, it would have a happy ending

And a ‘once upon a time’ – but I’d only be pretending 

The sun would always shine, and I wouldn’t need excuses

And I’d support a football team that simply never loses

But reality bites in the middle of the night

I’ll never come to prison again.

Content from Inside Time.

If I could dress it up and say I never felt better

That I’ve got a girl at home and I’m waiting for a letter

I’d pretend the kids are fine and doing well at school

And when I phone they say they miss me

And they think their daddy’s cool

That I work away from home

So I can buy them toys for Christmas

And when it’s time to go 

We blow each other tender kisses

I’m lying in my bed, staring at the ceiling

Thinking: I’ll never come to prison again.

If I could write a book, it would have a happy ending

And a ‘once upon a time’ – but I’d only be pretending 

The sun would always shine, and I wouldn’t need excuses

And I’d support a football team that simply never loses

But reality bites in the middle of the night

I’ll never come to prison again.

Content from Inside Time.

This
piece
was originally printed in the
July 2024
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
Stay Updated on All Things About Time

Be the first to learn about our monthly stories, plus new initiatives and live events

X

X

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