Poetry to prison

A child's poem

There was a child dreaming,

Then his dreams left, and his soul turned dark and without feeling.

He realized he was trapped in a river of problems

and didn't know what to do.

My unhappy day

An afternoon in April, I lost you. I don't know what else to say.

There is sadness in the sad afternoon.

Your smile has pierced my brain like an arrow.

I remember the hour and day I no longer had news of you.

Untitled

I feel like a dog in a pound, unable to speak.

Workshop Schedule 

The poetry workshop sessions are scheduled to take place in the morning, from 8:00 to 10:00.

Session Structure

• Poetry Reading (30-40 minutes): We will begin each session by celebrating the poetry of others out loud. The selected poems will revolve around themes like the pursuit of freedom, the expression of emotions such as anger, depression, and jealousy, and the experience of incarceration portrayed through poetry. The diverse selection of material will be sourced from poets worldwide, setting the stage to ignite inspiration.

• Workshop Portion (1 hour): After the poetry reading, we will transition into the workshop segment. This will provide a safe and welcoming space where participants will be encouraged to write their own poems. They can choose to share their work anonymously or openly. This creative process will serve as a springboard for addressing larger issues raised by the poetry. We will engage in discussions about solitude, the pursuit of happiness and a sense of community, and the intricacies of the creative process itself, aimed at crafting poems that deeply resonate.

Workshop Session Themes

• Session 1: Poetry and Joy (Completed)

• Session 2: Meeting the Enemy Within (Completed)

• Session 3: Community and Belonging (Completed)

• Session 4: Exploring Improvisation and Uncertainty (Upcoming)

• Session 5: Reaping the Fruits and Bringing It All Together

• Session 6: Celebrating the Results

• Session 7: Final Performance for family and staff

Results

The ultimate goal of this workshop series is to compile a rough draft of a poetry anthology. This collection is expected to garner the attention of various human rights organizations, prompting their interest in contributing to its publication. Our shared journey through poetry will serve as a powerful testament to the transformative impact of creative expression within the context of these young lives. Once the anthology is published, all sales will go to bettering the lives of the authors.

Evening Summer Rain

For Mary Oliver

To realize 

fire and water are not enemies 

      only twins knotted 

in the braids of lightning;

to unlatch my mouth 

      and unfurl my tongue

for the electricity

of each tingling drop—

to move toward the storm 

     and be drenched by it, deliberately—is a reckless 

summer act.

But you and I know why 

we have been busy

       soaking the moment in 

without rushing 

for shelter. We hope for nothing less 

than Heaven itself

plummeting down

into our bodies!

⎯ "Amor sobre Ruedas" by Ekiwah Adler-Beléndez (Editorial 17, 2021)

Love Song to My Motorized Wheelchair

I often forget you. You 

are cranky and lumbering.

But then I turn you on

and I remember 

I love you

especially on high speed

I love you recklessly

rolling with me 

my joystick is yours 

throbbing in full gear

as we bump

denting the floor.

You wait for me to

charge you up

and you come squealing  

                             asking for more!

If I don't please you 

your weight 

might crush my bones.

You love to see me wriggling 

and when I try to pull out of you

you hold me inside.

Oh my dark dawn!

Oh my loyal taskmaster!

Oh my electric,

steel tempered mistress!

⎯ "Amor sobre Ruedas" by Ekiwah Ekiwah Adler-Beléndez (Editorial 17, 2021)