Never Let the Monster Inside Take Control
A drawing from inside.
This section publishes creative contributions mostly from currently and formerly incarcerated people. It includes short-stories, poetry, creative nonfiction, art, and much more.
If you have something creative to submit to us, we would love to read it, or see it, and publish it in About Time – please write to us!

A drawing from inside.
Cold blows the wind tonight, sweetheart, cold are the drops of rain, cold are the four walls of my cell, so cold I shall remain.
These “emotions” that carry me. It’s from these that you see me. Let not what you see, be all I can be. I’m so much more, this isn’t all.
A girl trying to find her soul, an escape with rope and toe up a tree, a knot a swing.
No mail, no bail, just jail. Hail and rain, rain and suffering, silently ingrained.
Shout out to all you maintenance workers, from painting to plumbing, youse know you’re the reasons these places don’t collapse in on us!
Behold my friend, I am heroin, known by all as the destroyer of men. From where I came no one knows, a far away place where the poppies grow.

It’s been almost 10 years now, since my life has changed. For better or worse, nothing will ever be the same.

I fall, twisting and spinning in duress, a darkness complete, vast and eternal. An emptiness felt, thick as molasses, noises and sounds rend my mind infernal.

Do not cry by the window, gazing out to the sky. For I’ve not only left you, I’ll never say goodbye.

Window Pane is a reflection of childhood memories, looking outside of my bedroom, locked away.

Nowhere to go, as the new day is here? Holding on as the last threads, of my dreams disappear.

Givin’ my mum a hug, even for just a second. That’s worth a lot, worth the world I reckon.

‘Tis just another day behind the wall, with musters here and musters there, it surely wearies, one and all.

Life’s not a party my dearest darling, for we partied, now must you party alone.

Regardless of how we are feeling, days still start and end. Regardless of what I do, what others do, what happens to me or what happens to them.


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