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

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ISSUE NO. 6

December 2024

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Poetry

Mirror, Mirror

By

Bukks

Bukks writes from Loddon Prison in Victoria.

'8:17', by Chris, 2015, Boom Gate Gallery

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is this man I see?

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, that man there can't be me?

I don't know him, he is not me, this reflection can't be true?

He seems a little familiar, but the signs of me are few?

Don't recognise the lines I see, don't recognise the grey hair,

When I last looked at you, I was young, how is what I see now fair?

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, where did all the time go?

The whole world I've seem to’ve lost, but how was I to know?

Mirror, mirror on the wall, slow down, I can't keep pace.

In my head I'm still the same, it's you who's changed my face,

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, all I see is just a stranger.

To look at those cold, steely eyes, I can see in them only danger.

If this is me or meant to be, how could the time have gone?

This man that is here looking back, you must have got it wrong.

In this face, all I can see is the loneliness and pain.

If this is me, then my dark eyes are all that do remain.

Mirror, you have taken all my strength and all my youth,

All I liked about myself; now gone, I see the proof.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, my friends where are they now?

They've married & they've moved on; they've forgot you anyhow.

Mirror, I'm the same but changed, how can this be my story?

My hopes & dreams now stolen, while I'm stuck in purgatory.

The time has got the best of me, left me with only grief,

I'm looking at you, mirror, but I look with disbelief.

Where is freedom, mirror? And who then gets to decide?

You said I'd have a wife, and kids to raise, mirror, have you then lied?

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, I can't take this anymore,

My face has grown so old now, while my head is still at war.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, you have me under thumb,

Is all that's good now gone, or is there any good to come?

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is this man I see?

The man who came inside here's not the same man who'll get free!

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is this man I see?

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, that man there can't be me?

I don't know him, he is not me, this reflection can't be true?

He seems a little familiar, but the signs of me are few?

Don't recognise the lines I see, don't recognise the grey hair,

When I last looked at you, I was young, how is what I see now fair?

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, where did all the time go?

The whole world I've seem to’ve lost, but how was I to know?

Mirror, mirror on the wall, slow down, I can't keep pace.

In my head I'm still the same, it's you who's changed my face,

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, all I see is just a stranger.

To look at those cold, steely eyes, I can see in them only danger.

If this is me or meant to be, how could the time have gone?

This man that is here looking back, you must have got it wrong.

In this face, all I can see is the loneliness and pain.

If this is me, then my dark eyes are all that do remain.

Mirror, you have taken all my strength and all my youth,

All I liked about myself; now gone, I see the proof.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, my friends where are they now?

They've married & they've moved on; they've forgot you anyhow.

Mirror, I'm the same but changed, how can this be my story?

My hopes & dreams now stolen, while I'm stuck in purgatory.

The time has got the best of me, left me with only grief,

I'm looking at you, mirror, but I look with disbelief.

Where is freedom, mirror? And who then gets to decide?

You said I'd have a wife, and kids to raise, mirror, have you then lied?

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, I can't take this anymore,

My face has grown so old now, while my head is still at war.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, you have me under thumb,

Is all that's good now gone, or is there any good to come?

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is this man I see?

The man who came inside here's not the same man who'll get free!

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

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