Rarely have I heard men, real men, express their “luv” for one another on the outside so regularly as I do in the yard or in the yelling from their cells after muster.
It takes trust, courage and fearlessness for “real” men to be so open in their expression of “luving” one another.
This seems to me to indicate they sense a belonging not often enjoyed by many men on the outside.
What would you think this implies?
Would it show that many incarcerated men do have the capacity to tell one another how much they are appreciated by sharing the practical things of life – milk, bread, coffee, tea, toilet paper, meals, jam and minties – and often asking each other, “Is there anything you need, bro?”
Does this suggest, at last, they have a sense of belonging and acceptance from another? Maybe this belonging and acceptance has sadly been missing from some family members and friends due to the nature of the less good behaviours in the past?
In their sorrow, shame and guilt, maybe they find those in their family and their friends too judgemental and self-righteous to offer them the chance to make amends? Especially when they want to desperately change!
And so they at least begin to express their need to belong and accept others by saying, “Luv ya bro.”
David.
Rarely have I heard men, real men, express their “luv” for one another on the outside so regularly as I do in the yard or in the yelling from their cells after muster.
It takes trust, courage and fearlessness for “real” men to be so open in their expression of “luving” one another.
This seems to me to indicate they sense a belonging not often enjoyed by many men on the outside.
What would you think this implies?
Would it show that many incarcerated men do have the capacity to tell one another how much they are appreciated by sharing the practical things of life – milk, bread, coffee, tea, toilet paper, meals, jam and minties – and often asking each other, “Is there anything you need, bro?”
Does this suggest, at last, they have a sense of belonging and acceptance from another? Maybe this belonging and acceptance has sadly been missing from some family members and friends due to the nature of the less good behaviours in the past?
In their sorrow, shame and guilt, maybe they find those in their family and their friends too judgemental and self-righteous to offer them the chance to make amends? Especially when they want to desperately change!
And so they at least begin to express their need to belong and accept others by saying, “Luv ya bro.”
David.
Your contributions are the centerpiece of the paper. If you would like to contribute to our Letters section, please send your letters to the below postal address:
Or via email:
On 1 November 2025, QCS introduced a new pricing model: 20 cents per minute for all calls, mobile or local. A call that once cost 30 cents for 15 minutes now costs $3 – a ten-times increase.
I have been incarcerated for 22 months of a four-year sentence in Queensland jails. This poem is about my own situation.
Reading other prisoner’s stories inspired me to keep my head up and keep going now four months in, thank you all who share your stories and words of wisdom.
I moved units about a month ago and we feed some stray cats here. One even let me pat her last night! It's been over a year since I've patted an animal, so you can imagine how excited I was!
Help keep the momentum going. All donations will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.
All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. If you would like to pay directly into our bank account to avoid the processing fee, please contact donate@abouttime.org.au. ABN 67 667 331 106.
Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.
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.
Leave a Comment
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere. uis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.