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!
Some say Love is overrated. It has no relevance anymore I say. I know more than love unbound, I can make these prayerful sounds.

Here we are again, this day is just the same as last, I've done all I can do and yet it seems no time has passed.

What filled my days before, I do not know. I have so much love within me, from inside my heart I glow.

I stand at my door and watch the birds, as they spread their wings and fly. Oh how wonderful my life would be, if I could fly so high.

When you feel broken and can’t remember who you used to be, please know that person is still inside of you, waiting to be acknowledged and validated. Find a calm place, go inside of your soul. That is where the goodness lies.

The same as I was, just in a different lane, because the monster in me I can now tame.

Doing time together, under lock and key, but helping others can set your mind free.

Here's just a few of my crochet art projects – this is what you can achieve if you learn how to crochet!

Tears on my pillow, pain in my heart. The day they put me in prison, my whole world fell apart.

Lights on, doors slam, go running to the phone. Dial the number hit the hash, and wonder if they're home. Spend the first minute saying hello, fight to say a word. Tell them that you love them and hope that you are heard.


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