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

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ISSUE NO. 5

November 2024

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Poetry

Last Letter

Anonymous

The author writes from a Victorian prison. This is the last page of an actual letter they wrote to their spouse.

'Escaping Cloth' by Allan, 2000, 85cm x 108cm (LBCC.BGG) (Boomgate Gallery)

I'm going to need a shower,

when I get out-

wash this prison off me.

Help me with this, come inside the water with me.

Wash the stink of green off my chest,

my back,

my mind.

Wash this filthy, miserable place

off me for the last time.

Make me clean.

Wipe the slate,

turn the page,

come into my arms and promise

me everything will be ok this time.

Promise me the world-

give me you.

That's all I want,

that's all I ask.

Clean me of this damaged life

and make it right.

And I swear I will do whatever it takes to be a better man.

I swear it.

I'm going to need a shower,

when I get out-

wash this prison off me.

Help me with this, come inside the water with me.

Wash the stink of green off my chest,

my back,

my mind.

Wash this filthy, miserable place

off me for the last time.

Make me clean.

Wipe the slate,

turn the page,

come into my arms and promise

me everything will be ok this time.

Promise me the world-

give me you.

That's all I want,

that's all I ask.

Clean me of this damaged life

and make it right.

And I swear I will do whatever it takes to be a better man.

I swear it.

Little Rhyme

By Justin

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

Creative

ISSUE NO. 24

1 MIN READ

Mother

By Biannca

What did you see when you looked at me? Just a little girl, I had no voice, you kept me down without a choice. You gave heartache and pain, said I was your endless shame.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 24

2 MIN READ

One Day We Will Be Free

By Matt

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

Creative

ISSUE NO. 24

1 MIN READ

All for One, One for All at Bandyup

By Ruth

Bandyup is a place, where we are a mixed race. It doesn’t matter where we are from, we should support each other as one.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 24

1 MIN READ