by Mesro Coles-El, San Quentin State Prison, CA
I am broken
For years
I was open
To abuse from
People needing
Ego-stroking
That berated my
Need to be outspoken
Instead of support
Those who told me
They loved me
Filed reports
That lied to me
When they
Sold me
Meanwhile
When I was in court
Where I boldly
Tried to get home
I was
Out of sorts
Angry and lonely
Somedays
I stare at
My shards
Gathering dust
The floor is
So hard!
In too many ways
I’m scarred
So much so
It feels like
Happy days
Just aren’t
In the cards
For sport
Slave holders
Carve to
Fold me
Into my kennel
I’m a soldier
Through hunger pains
Made bolder
By my soft touch
That got me
Boiling in life’s kettle
With no one
To hold me
Then I get mail
From people
I love and trust
And mix their
Golden words
With hope-lager
And pick
My pieces up
Kintsugi
Is the art
Of self-repair
And finding
Beauty
In being broken
My rhymes
And that golden glue
Give me solace
When despair
Cracks my brain open
Human sunrays
Cut through
And fix emotional
Wear and tear
I can truly say
Life, when shared,
Is going to be okay
With support
From wonderful people
Who care.