Thank you all for sharing your creativity, your passion, and your power. I've only gotten a few pages in so far, but look forward to reading more. This is great artwork, and I'm happy to have found it.
To Byron and all the Poets, Rappers and Singers. Thank you for sharing your work with the world. Creating something to share with others is the most meaningful work a person can do and I am so glad that you have shared your work with me.
Congratulations on finishing your cosmetology program and on making such great practice toward your associate's degree! Please know that despite the recent election outcome and the hateful speech being covered by the media, there are still plenty of us out here who care about you. We care about our prison population, we care about the transgender people in our community, and we worry about the safety of both of the groups -- and especially of those who fit into both categories. Please know you're not alone, and keep fighting for your rights. I'm so glad you realize that you're a beautiful and powerful person. Never lose that.
Jennifer, this is a wonderful post on being a better member of a community. It moved me deeply and made me think very hard about how I should consider my interactions with the people I see every day on the bus and on my walks.
A lot of time has passed since you wrote this, and I hope you are still alive. I wanted to say that I heard you and I'm sorry you are feeling so hopeless. I, too, have a 15-year-old daughter, so I know the protective feelings that come with that. I can't imagine how painful it would be to be prevented from fully parenting because of incarceration. I hope that you will hang in there, because your daughter will continue to need you in her life ahead. Even adult children need love from their parents; it's still going to be worthwhile. She doesn't listen to you now-- but maybe your efforts will still not be in vain, in the long run. I hope that is true.
I also wanted to say that, while you felt at time of writing that you weren't doing anything positive, you managed to communicate something very heartfelt to a stranger. That is worthwhile, that human connection. Thank you for making the effort to write. Hugs to you and to your daughter.
Thank you for sharing your story. I hope you are able to transfer to a prison near your family. Keep fighting. Many folks are working to improve conditions in prisons and I hope their efforts eventually help you and your loved ones.
I think you make a powerful point that prison is already the punishment, and rehabilitation should be the goal within prison not more punishment. Do you know Raymond Carver's poetry and short stories? He too had cancer. This is the last poem from his last book:
Late Fragment
And did you get what you wanted from this life, even so? I did. And what did you want? To call myself beloved, to feel myself beloved on this earth.
--Raymond Carver
I hope knowing that you have loved ones, that you are loved, is a balm.
I am so happy for you to be able to speak so thoughtfully and eloquently about love. I hope that all of us can keep the truth of love in our hearts and remember these words. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.
RSS
With love,
Kara
In Peace,
Emilie
Keep loving yourself, you are worth it.
kf
A lot of time has passed since you wrote this, and I hope you are still alive. I wanted to say that I heard you and I'm sorry you are feeling so hopeless. I, too, have a 15-year-old daughter, so I know the protective feelings that come with that. I can't imagine how painful it would be to be prevented from fully parenting because of incarceration. I hope that you will hang in there, because your daughter will continue to need you in her life ahead. Even adult children need love from their parents; it's still going to be worthwhile. She doesn't listen to you now-- but maybe your efforts will still not be in vain, in the long run. I hope that is true.
I also wanted to say that, while you felt at time of writing that you weren't doing anything positive, you managed to communicate something very heartfelt to a stranger. That is worthwhile, that human connection. Thank you for making the effort to write. Hugs to you and to your daughter.
I think you make a powerful point that prison is already the punishment, and rehabilitation should be the goal within prison not more punishment. Do you know Raymond Carver's poetry and short stories? He too had cancer. This is the last poem from his last book:
Late Fragment
And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on this earth.
--Raymond Carver
I hope knowing that you have loved ones, that you are loved, is a balm.
All the best,
DB
I am so happy for you to be able to speak so thoughtfully and eloquently about love. I hope that all of us can keep the truth of love in our hearts and remember these words. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.
Be well,
efs