Posted inPoetry

Shades of Freedom

by Travis Britt September 9, 2021April 3, 2022

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Shades of Freedom

by Travis Britt, Prison Journalism Project
September 9, 2021

<h1>Shades of Freedom</h1>
<p class="byline">by Travis Britt, Prison Journalism Project <br />September 9, 2021</p>
 
<p>I look through the porous window,<br />No, not the grey misted silver<br />Cut deep into the cemented wall,<br />But through the protruding oriel<br />Veneered in my mind.&nbsp;<br />I see brilliant landscapes<br />Swaying in shades of freedom.</p>
<p>I see concrete hills littered with scandent buildings,<br />Large and small,<br />Colorful spectrums from amber to zaffer,<br />Lush with all kinds of people.<br />I see lovers holding hands,<br />Touching, caressing, kissing, united in heart’s desire,&nbsp;<br />Together as one, an eternal duo.&nbsp;<br />These precious moments gripped in time,&nbsp;<br />Shimmering in shades of freedom.</p>
<p>I see asphalt valleys lined in shops,&nbsp;<br />Bustling offices splashed red with brick;<br />Duplex granite fleeced in raven dark.<br />A sinuous network of commerce and art,<br />United in purpose, diverse as the zephyr winds;<br />Resplendent hues in vivid display,<br />Exposing the charity of life,&nbsp;<br />Scenery in shades of freedom.</p>
<p>These once-vibrant memories:&nbsp;<br />All of us playing at the park,&nbsp;<br />My sons splashing in the river,&nbsp;<br />Me hanging out at home with friends.&nbsp;<br />Fragments of a hopeful past,&nbsp;<br />Now faded into oblivions grasp,&nbsp;<br />Shadows in shades of freedom.</p>


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I look through the porous window,
No, not the grey misted silver
Cut deep into the cemented wall,
But through the protruding oriel
Veneered in my mind.
I see brilliant landscapes
Swaying in shades of freedom.

I see concrete hills littered with scandent buildings,
Large and small,
Colorful spectrums from amber to zaffer,
Lush with all kinds of people.
I see lovers holding hands,
Touching, caressing, kissing, united in heart’s desire,
Together as one, an eternal duo.
These precious moments gripped in time,
Shimmering in shades of freedom.

I see asphalt valleys lined in shops,
Bustling offices splashed red with brick;
Duplex granite fleeced in raven dark.
A sinuous network of commerce and art,
United in purpose, diverse as the zephyr winds;
Resplendent hues in vivid display,
Exposing the charity of life,
Scenery in shades of freedom.

These once-vibrant memories:
All of us playing at the park,
My sons splashing in the river,
Me hanging out at home with friends.
Fragments of a hopeful past,
Now faded into oblivions grasp,
Shadows in shades of freedom.

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Travis Britt

Travis Britt is a poet who has been writing since he was a teenager. A devout Christian, Britt is enrolled in a master’s program for pastoral ministry and theology at International Christian College and Seminary. He is incarcerated in California.

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