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Photo by  Kees Streefkerk  on  Unsplash
Photo by Kees Streefkerk on Unsplash

One day you’re high,
One day you’re low,
One day you’re confused,
don’t know which way to go.

Blindsided by hardship,
that seems to come out of nowhere,
problem after problem,
seems like too much to bear.
They say God knows our limits,
we question if that’s true,
sometimes it takes more than faith,
to get this brother through.

On this roller coaster called life,
there is much to be learned,
the path is not always straight,
it has its twists and turns.
So, when you’re down don’t stay down,
get back up and strive,
though the storm came through,
don’t let it leave
its legacy
behind.

*This poem was reprinted from Jamsson Telisma’s book, “The Book of Spade.”

Disclaimer: The views in this article are those of the author. Prison Journalism Project has verified the writer’s identity and basic facts such as the names of institutions mentioned.

Jamsson Telisma is a writer incarcerated in Florida. He has published a book called “The Book of Spade,” with three more books of poems and a children’s book awaiting final editing.