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By Victor R.

since I was a little boy, this dude was my homie
cops on the corner
he’s the one who would warn me

my mom is giving me the look
like yeah right, that’s my homeboy

family is telling me this
is not the life you want to live, boy

had to learn the hard way
now I’m stuck up in this cell all alone thinking

like dang where’s my homeboys
is this the life I want? not really

so I’ve got to change, bro.

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.

Student at Southwest Oklahoma Youth Academy Charter School

This writer is a student at Southwest Oklahoma Youth Academy Charter School, who participated in a collaboration with students in English classes at Oklahoma Christian University. The work was first published in “Unaware,” an anthology developed as part of the program.