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

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ISSUE NO. 15

October 2025

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Poetry

The Darkness Returns

By

Leslie

Leslie writes from a prison in VIC.

Facing the darkness, the pain and cold travelling through the body, the soul taking me back to when I played alone when hell exists, the place my home I spend years, months, days wearing the mask trying to pretend there is no fear or pain

That I am happy, feel loved, nurtured at peace, strong, brave, carefree.

Masks are meant to protect not hide the anguish, the pain, suffering, hurt.

The struggle, the desire, the longing, want for a kind word, a gentle touch

The feeling of being wanted, needed, loved

Feelings that have been far from my soul so long, too long

They are barely echoes, the memories the times from long ago when I felt happy, loved, nurtured, strong, brave

Now I feel numb, cold, alone, afraid, weak

The darkness returns.

Facing the darkness, the pain and cold travelling through the body, the soul taking me back to when I played alone when hell exists, the place my home I spend years, months, days wearing the mask trying to pretend there is no fear or pain

That I am happy, feel loved, nurtured at peace, strong, brave, carefree.

Masks are meant to protect not hide the anguish, the pain, suffering, hurt.

The struggle, the desire, the longing, want for a kind word, a gentle touch

The feeling of being wanted, needed, loved

Feelings that have been far from my soul so long, too long

They are barely echoes, the memories the times from long ago when I felt happy, loved, nurtured, strong, brave

Now I feel numb, cold, alone, afraid, weak

The darkness returns.

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