A Prisoner’s Poetry: Serving 15 Years To Life (Anti-Drug Use Poem)

Editor’s Note: In going through an old file cabinet, I found a letter that I had used in my anti-drug shows for schools. A letter written in about 1990 by a teen who had been using drugs, got into a struggle with another teen, a gun went off — and he was in jail…serving 15 years to life. This is being published on TMV without the prisoner’s name, since it was a private poem letter to a friend. But it’s message is so powerful it’s worth preserving and indexing on the Internet. JG

15 Years to Life

As I sit here in Prison — trapped in this hell-hole,
looking at 15 years — maybe life without parole.
remembering the good times — I thought would never end,
with my loved ones, my family and especially my friends,
while in another state — I committed this crime,
and I’m here in state prison – doing my time.

No more sex — no more walks on the beach
No more pretty girls — in which to meet,
Life is so different — it’s the way you feel,
When you’re stuck inside concrete made with steel.
I’m lucky to have seen — the places I’ve been,
because I don’t know if — I’ll ever see them again.

it’s a different world — inside of this cage,
You’re surrounded with violence and filled with rage.
Death is in here it happens every day.
Out on the stretchers — they take them away.
Well I’m branded a killer — Just a number, not a name
Noted a convicted — who got caught up in the game.

I’ve never been in trouble, never been in jail,
and for a fatal mistake — I live life in this hell.
I can call you collect — and write you a letter,
but would you write me back — and make me feel better?

I’ve taken a life and I do feel remorse,
but my being in prison — is making it worse.
I don’t think it’s fair -getting so much damn time,
It’s an accident that happened — No I’m not lying.
Well so much for a marriage — a child, a wife
I’ll be here in prison. Doing 15 years to life.