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

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ISSUE NO. 12

July 2025

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Poetry

Rachelle, Not Double 7

By

Shelly (Rachelle)

Shelly writes from Southern Queensland Correctional Centre in Queensland.

Willy Pleasance

Sitting in this cage, barbed wire all around.

Been transported here, but first my wrists are bound.

Heavy metal locked, no chance of breaking free.

Got no chance against one ning, let alone three.

Sent to secure, cause the machine had me flagged.

Sitting there hopeless while my belongings are bagged.

I got my new identity… double seven.

Knowing my chances are slim that I’ll end up in heaven.

Hell’s where I’m headed after the crime I committed.

I knew it was wrong but I still fucking did it.

Sitting alone in my cell so cold and so dark.

See a familiar face come in, I finally get a spark.

That spark slowly fades when I realise that they’re fake.

In here true friends are fucking hard to make.

A rare few you’ll meet worth sharing your time.

The rest are all snakes and you’ll leave them behind.

The screws don’t give a shit, to them you’re just a number.

Think of the lowest of the lowest, and that you’re still under.

Use your time to get clean and stay off the drugs.

Won’t it be worth it for a life of your kid’s kisses and hugs.

Trust me I know even though it’s only my first time.

I’m taken from society while still in my prime.

I’m not able to talk to or to see my son.

Life of drugs and jail also took my mum.

I remember being young and lacking support.

It’s hard to be 13 and hold up the fort.

That’s when life begins to go down and not up.

Try to talk about your problems, get told to shut the fuck up.

One day I’ll start to learn from my mistakes.

Cause it’s not just mine but my family’s hearts I break.

Watch for that day cause I’ll finally soar.

This low life I’m seen as will once be no more.

Maybe one day I will make it to heaven.

I’ll be known as Rachelle, not double 7.

Sitting in this cage, barbed wire all around.

Been transported here, but first my wrists are bound.

Heavy metal locked, no chance of breaking free.

Got no chance against one ning, let alone three.

Sent to secure, cause the machine had me flagged.

Sitting there hopeless while my belongings are bagged.

I got my new identity… double seven.

Knowing my chances are slim that I’ll end up in heaven.

Hell’s where I’m headed after the crime I committed.

I knew it was wrong but I still fucking did it.

Sitting alone in my cell so cold and so dark.

See a familiar face come in, I finally get a spark.

That spark slowly fades when I realise that they’re fake.

In here true friends are fucking hard to make.

A rare few you’ll meet worth sharing your time.

The rest are all snakes and you’ll leave them behind.

The screws don’t give a shit, to them you’re just a number.

Think of the lowest of the lowest, and that you’re still under.

Use your time to get clean and stay off the drugs.

Won’t it be worth it for a life of your kid’s kisses and hugs.

Trust me I know even though it’s only my first time.

I’m taken from society while still in my prime.

I’m not able to talk to or to see my son.

Life of drugs and jail also took my mum.

I remember being young and lacking support.

It’s hard to be 13 and hold up the fort.

That’s when life begins to go down and not up.

Try to talk about your problems, get told to shut the fuck up.

One day I’ll start to learn from my mistakes.

Cause it’s not just mine but my family’s hearts I break.

Watch for that day cause I’ll finally soar.

This low life I’m seen as will once be no more.

Maybe one day I will make it to heaven.

I’ll be known as Rachelle, not double 7.

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