ISSUE NO. 14
+
Sections
September 2025
Donate Here

Letters

The Long Road

By
Bukks

Bukks writes from a prison in VIC.

Willy Pleasance

Hello again, it’s Bukks,

I’ve moved on now to a restricted minimum prison now. I just thought I’d write to let you know how I’m doing. It’s a big move for someone who has been in so long and I didn’t really want to do it to be honest. I was happy and comfortable and in jail that is a big thing.

I’m still writing poetry as a way to get stuff out of me, better than a psych, I think? My pen-pal went home, deported back to her home country. I get to talk to her on the phone when she’s not too busy so it’s all good.

Why does time move so slow? Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years, year after year. I wonder if other people have ever felt invisible? This is how I feel a lot for some reason. I have been through so much just during this one sentence.

I started off as basically a kid, drug-using, fighting, running amok and slashing up even. I’m way past that now, I’m a man, I’ve grown, I think? I haven’t slashed up in a long, long time which is one good thing, I guess. I turned to Islam which has helped me so much, but being honest I don’t feel too worthy? What can you do, life’s a trip you know?

I lost a lot of time to the slot as well, it’s like being in Cryo, like Demolition Man, except you are awake the whole time. I get lonely enough without having to go back there. I have worked my way out of maximum, medium and am now in a restricted minimum. Restricted as it still has a fence around it so you are not going anywhere!

Would I even run off if I could? Where would I even go? I don’t know what’s left for me outside of these walls? I hate it and sometimes it makes me hate myself? I’m doing stuff now like the TPP so I can get into uni if I want? It’s funny to think I may do uni at what, 45, 46? I won’t be doing it this year so I guess at the year after and that?

I’m going to be honest with you again, I don’t feel any prouder or anything? Old school poets would call the way I always feel melancholy, or so I’ve learned. I don’t know what if anything I’ll ever get to make of myself? Who cares about a 49/50-year-old who has spent more than half his life in prison and / or juvenile justice centres?

So what is left for me? I will just keep writing poetry and see what comes of it? It’s not like I’m gifted with any other talents? Too bad I didn’t realise I was actually good at something a lot sooner, what can you do? So, I’m a 44-year-old poet, at a restricted minimum-security prison who still has at least four and a half years left? I just keep on going, you know, what else can I do?

It’s been a long, long road and I still feel not much closer to the end. If I didn’t say I’m scared of getting out, I’d be a liar! Not that I have to worry about that for a while. I get to eat a lot better here, bonus. I can still write my poems.

Hello again, it’s Bukks,

I’ve moved on now to a restricted minimum prison now. I just thought I’d write to let you know how I’m doing. It’s a big move for someone who has been in so long and I didn’t really want to do it to be honest. I was happy and comfortable and in jail that is a big thing.

I’m still writing poetry as a way to get stuff out of me, better than a psych, I think? My pen-pal went home, deported back to her home country. I get to talk to her on the phone when she’s not too busy so it’s all good.

Why does time move so slow? Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years, year after year. I wonder if other people have ever felt invisible? This is how I feel a lot for some reason. I have been through so much just during this one sentence.

I started off as basically a kid, drug-using, fighting, running amok and slashing up even. I’m way past that now, I’m a man, I’ve grown, I think? I haven’t slashed up in a long, long time which is one good thing, I guess. I turned to Islam which has helped me so much, but being honest I don’t feel too worthy? What can you do, life’s a trip you know?

I lost a lot of time to the slot as well, it’s like being in Cryo, like Demolition Man, except you are awake the whole time. I get lonely enough without having to go back there. I have worked my way out of maximum, medium and am now in a restricted minimum. Restricted as it still has a fence around it so you are not going anywhere!

Would I even run off if I could? Where would I even go? I don’t know what’s left for me outside of these walls? I hate it and sometimes it makes me hate myself? I’m doing stuff now like the TPP so I can get into uni if I want? It’s funny to think I may do uni at what, 45, 46? I won’t be doing it this year so I guess at the year after and that?

I’m going to be honest with you again, I don’t feel any prouder or anything? Old school poets would call the way I always feel melancholy, or so I’ve learned. I don’t know what if anything I’ll ever get to make of myself? Who cares about a 49/50-year-old who has spent more than half his life in prison and / or juvenile justice centres?

So what is left for me? I will just keep writing poetry and see what comes of it? It’s not like I’m gifted with any other talents? Too bad I didn’t realise I was actually good at something a lot sooner, what can you do? So, I’m a 44-year-old poet, at a restricted minimum-security prison who still has at least four and a half years left? I just keep on going, you know, what else can I do?

It’s been a long, long road and I still feel not much closer to the end. If I didn’t say I’m scared of getting out, I’d be a liar! Not that I have to worry about that for a while. I get to eat a lot better here, bonus. I can still write my poems.

This
letter
was originally printed in the
September 2025
edition of About Time.
By DJ

Why would anybody want to come back to the system and add to that statistic?

ISSUE NO. 25
2 MIN READ
By Colin

We have an active veterans’ affairs type meeting here every month and an outside group called “Buddy Up” that sends two of their volunteers in.

ISSUE NO. 25
1 MIN READ
By Dylan

I’m only 23 years old but I feel like I’m 43. Being in prison definitely preserves your body but makes your mind and soul feel so much older if you know what I mean.

ISSUE NO. 25
1 MIN READ
By Darren

I’ve been in prison for 14 years now, and lockdowns have always been a feature of prison life, but I have also noticed that over the years they have gotten worse and worse.

ISSUE NO. 25
1 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

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

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.

Donations via GiveNow

Email

Instagram

LinkedIn