The Pain of the Prison System is part of a child’s formative years.
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A Poem
Dori Leigh
Why Mom, why are they taking him?
Because he did something bad, something
he’s gotta pay for.
Momma didn’t say how much he had to pay,
that’s because he didn’t have to pay with how much,
he had to pay with how long.
How long would uncle be gone?
He’s gonna be gone awhile,
probably be back when you’re good and grown.
But who’s gonna be with us while Daddy’s gone?
Day after day, year after year,
I waited for him to come back,
imagining the day I would see him again.
I waited for him to call my name from
down the halls, something, anything
to let me know he was home.
My brother would say, “No, he ain’t
coming back. He did something bad,
something awful, so awful maybe
even God couldn’t take him back.”
He missed him too, yeah, I knew it,
I’d watch him play football like one
was still watching.
My sister was too young to see them
take him away but she wasn’t too young
to hear ma’s cries at the end
of the day.
We’d grown up but not old. I’ll
never forget that call saying he
was coming home.
Everyone was excited except my brother,
I think he grew tired and angry
waiting on him.
We welcomed him home with open arms.
Well, at least I did. Seven years later and
I didn’t treat him any different.
I missed him so much it didn’t matter
what he did, but some nights he’d wake up
screaming, crying, so I comforted him
the way I knew how, same way as Papa did.
I opened up the lid to the piano, and
filled the house with music.
Did that for months on end, even
came up with a few songs.
Songs about love, life, and even him.
Dad came back and it was hard for him.
They got into a fight and
I couldn’t sing to my uncle again.
◊♦◊
Art is a part of the emotional healing process.
P.O.P.S. provides a resource for learning to deal with and to express the deep emotional scars from the imprisonment of family members.
THE FIRST POPS ANTHOLOGY is now available. If you’re interested in purchasing a copy, please contact popsvenice@gmail.com
Photo: JohnONolan/FlickrThe post When Men Have to Pay in Time appeared first on The Good Men Project.
