Inmate Poetry

If a picture could speak a thousand words what would your picture say, would it tell a story of how you've lived your days?

The smiles from the good times and all the laughter that you've had or would it show the years gone by and the things that made you sad?

Would it tell a tale of the adventures you been on of all the fun that you've had and the places you've gone?

Would it sing a saga about how you've sailed the seas gone to foreign countries or saw the redwood trees?

Hello, my name is Dashawn Yarbrough. I would like to start off with a poem I wrote for a woman in my vision. This is called "Can You See, Me?"

Today is the day, I wonder, will you be by my side?

If everything collapses on me, will you be my guide?

Every time I see your precious face,

Your love, your smile, your hugs, I can't replace.

You're the one I think of, my heart starts to race.

Can you save me from this damage that I can't excuse?

I'll take you to the moon and back, can you picture that?

I wrote this poem, which my friends made into a song and a music video.  If you are interested, contact me for the info!

I am Sansón,

I was born in Tecomán,

The cradle of Mr. Satan,

In my street of Valle Querido,

A dog barks after midnight,

And next to my cardboard shack,

That Gentleman appears: "I am the Devil, and I'm here to teach you,

The art of being a big boss,

With your very own cartel,

Drugs and guns will protect you,

Your soul is a small price to pay,

So what do you say buddy?"

An epidemic of men and women with clouded judgment. The level-headed are wary of going out in public, cuz God forbid they engage in a conversation. With somebody who will kill them for disagreein’ about the subject.

Go get some groceries, you might end up gettin’ shot for that. Encounter police, you might end up gettin’ shot for that. The days have passed when your children can go to class. And fully focus, cuz they fear that they might end up getting’... mm.

"A Heart Now Pure" by Ahmad Smadi #BL2796

A Shakespearean sonnet written in iambic octameter.

I find myself in jail again, away from those I said I hate,
After I told them all to go to Hell and back from whence they came.
In isolation physically, despite my solitude, my fate
Seems predisposed to agony, for always I have been in shame.

It's funny how life brings you to the gate,
Regardless of your level of desire to face
The people that you love and hate,
And understand what feeds your inner fire.

Why do you think and feel the way you do?
Are they really your friends and enemies?
You must know that to tango it takes two.
You're free to choose your battles as you please.

So rise, Arjuna, claim your freedom now,
And rid yourself of false duality.
The dark exists as long as you allow
Your fear to lead you through adversity.

"CHEESE"

From Me to U
A Genuine Howdy Do?
I Do Me, Which Means I'm Pretty Cool.
I Pray You Are Too, And Seldom Feeling Blue.
Though At Times I Do Get,
At Those Times I Need To Share Wit-
Somebody; A Laugh That's Both Hearty and Hardy.

I Don't Live Life Carpe .... ... Diem.
Though I Do Enjoy The Present,
I'm now more AM Than PM Question Mark ?
The Ying and The Yang
Try, Try, Try
To Stay Positive Even In The Heavy Rain.
And Smile.

Prison Imagine trying to find a place of serenity in an environment filled with chaos and havoc.

It’s a dark setting where desires try to hold you back from ridding your destructive habits.

You’re surrounded by hundreds of people but still can’t shake the feeling of lonesome.

You start to feel invisible and people you held close begin to make you seem unreachable.

The streets were an illusion that had us blinded. When we sit and look back we start wishing we could rewind it.

Abdullah Sheriff

Because you haven't praised anything in months, 

You're standing alone in a skyway

Lifted up above, but not separated at all. 

Glass walls provide a perfect view to the 

Loneliness

Loss, 

Desolation 

All around.

Below, a causeway through the winter misery that doesn't keep you dry. 

Once a bustling highway that hid (but didn't) the 

Distress, 

Sorrow

Trial 

Of those who walked on it 

Of the empty classrooms 

Full of students 

That now sat deserted either side

I'm thankful for my past pain
For pain taught me how to heal
I'm grateful to those who betrayed me
I learned loyalty in the meaning to be real
I'm glad I experienced many sorrows
I gained the strength to move on to tomorrow
Glad for all the times I've been hurt
I experienced the knowledge to soothe another
Through my experience of love lost
I see what it truly means and it's true cost
I learned that to build strength there has to be struggle
For nothing great was ever built easy

The sea is high
I want it to be flat
The waves
Crashing

You will soon cease to exist

By natural progress and genetics

Synthetic your kind

Mine, authentic and divine

Far from the sun, you're blind

Close to the sun, I shine

Close to the sun, you're weak

Close to the sun, I peak

My hair like wool, and kink

Receptors for energy to link

The House

The heart is the house of love
But can you discern if yours is well built
Does the stitching resemble the fabric of a worn out glove
Or the complexity and attentions of a grandmothers quilt

Are the walls of your house fortified as that of a fortress
Not susceptible to the doubt, uncertainty, and conditions
Or are they more in kind with a tent in the forest
At the will of the elements, weather, and ever devouring darkness

Dirty Dawg is my name, hustling is my game.

Until Tomorrow

Living on top, feeding off the bottom. Holes in his body, in the places they shot him. Rising from these sins, to repeat insanity again. A perpetual battle, I never seem to win.

Miracles are a figment, of my imagination. Tuning in my mind, trying to find a station. Blasted by my fears, that consume my mind. Searching for forgiveness, I can never find.

A parent to my death, yet that's all that's left. Everything they stole, they don't reflect as theft. Shiny new things, give light to people's greed. We always forget, and neglect our brothers' needs.

Life is time
But time is an illusion...

If you're lucky
I will write you the rest

Transitioning

Poverty molded youths into criminals, shooting and killing altered adolescence mentality.

Friends morph into your opposition. Rolex and bracelets melted into handcuffs.

King size switched into twin bunk beds. Sweet dreams turned into prison nightmares.

Bologna and cheese replaced steak and lobster. Freedom stripped away, 20-year sentence denial after denial.

Every rose needs the rain...

Despite the cosmic storm,
My heart being torn to pieces
Space time continuum hole in my soul.
I have individuals who believe,
Every rose needs the rain.

This day is like no other.
Peace invades the dark cloud over my head.
For I have a chance at love once again.
Negative vibes won’t even enter my
Frontal lobe.

Look up into the nights sky, you’ll
See everyone who’s ever been doubted
Make sure when they speak of humanitarianism,
They include my name.

“A Fathers Unconditional Love”

I sit back and dwell on the things of the past I remember, as I awake, my spirit returns and it's September.

I ask myself where the last three months have gone. The heavenly Father's spirit descends upon me and says, "My son, I've called your spirit for a heavenly mission, so follow my lead, for I'll be with thee."

I follow His command with faith and trust. Although I fall a few times, He lifts me up from the muck and dust.

SEARCHIN

"Dust Storms"

Prison is like Dust Storms.
When you're walking through it, you can always feel your Past.
You miss your family so much and the Photos never last.
I think about doing right and making right choices.
Won't be listening to those negative voices.
Time to do what my Pop's always said.
Keep your Head up Son because life is for the Living and not for the Dead.

That cherish a friendship built with emotions and understanding,
knowing perfection isn't real life only tells a fairy,
Somebody who can read the signs ,
Who can close their eyes when love is blind.
Trusting my words because it's all I have.
Time after time I equal your expectations like math I'm just asking for a chance,
Are you that somebody?

Thoughts of you running through my dreams,
Yet reality ain't what it seems.
Visions of raising kids while chasing our happily ever after
Yet distance and time seems to always get the last of laughters….
Doubts as time seems to take its toll
Yet in love, faith is the foundation of belief
So is what I've been told.

Christopher A valesquez
 

Abandon,

Like an orphan at a young age, Too damn young to feel this type of pain, and steady thinking about the ones I showed love to that I thought was my friends and family members of my blood, who vacated out of my life. It feels just like a rainy day, especially when you put so much in a person and over time it reveals who they really are That Hurts!

“An Open Door”

Don’t shy away from an open door.

Through caution to the wind and explore

To be blind or deaf is to be deprived of living life fully. To be mentally blind or deaf is worse: being capable of experiencing all life has to offer but self-limitations keep you stagnated and self-maintenance of others projections of what you should be keep you from seeking totality. The lack of true definition and proper role models in one’s personal life or even the lack of a desire to be more than regular perpetuates this blind and deaf society.

There’s a woman that calls my name,
A love that is ferocious, and a loyalty that is untamed. I see your smile through the ozone, my soul is your home.
Although am in jail, your still not alone. I wrote this poem in conclusion of us.
Our love, our loyalty, our souls, our trust. Lies must die and truth lives forever, so promise me you’ll be honest and we will forever be together.
The question still remains IS TRUE LOVE REALLY TRUE ? I had that same question until I met you.

Wanna get away baby? You know that I’ll be here,
When you’re in my arms you don’t gotta have no fear,
Let me protect you the rest of my years,
I really mean it, I love you my dear.

I left the streets cause I’d rather lay with you,
You are the one, the one I can’t lose,
I came to realize that I’m better off with you,
It took me awhile, had to understand I can’t always play it tough and I gotta smile,
I was hurt and traumatized, I got caught up in that life,
Had to cut some people off, trying to move onto better things.

I’m in the prison walls, music’s gone no applause,
So where’s everybody at that says they got me tho?
I’m sittin’ on my bunk contemplate about it all,
Does anybody even think about me anymore?

Everything I ever loved is gone, never even got to go to prom,
Tell me how I’m supposed to do right when all I ever know was wrong?
Were am I supposed to go from here, cause I don’t really know,
Parole to family? They must have all been mad at me cause I
Haven’t heard from anyone in years.

I just found a woman with beauty so rare, I am talking about you silly, (smile), I
PROMISE to show you how much I care.
BY giving you the attention you need,
THE love and support every day that you communicate with me.
HEAVEN will be a reality instead of a dream
IN my arms you will always be.
THE treasures on earth can put a smile on your face;
SKIES will be the limit once I leave this place.
ABOVE every problem we will rise,
TO wash away every tear in your eyes.
ALWAYS happy you will be