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Photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash

Three things you must do
when all hell breaks loose,
ask forgiveness from God;
die with honor;
and tighten up your shoes…

Because war is brutal
and bullets have no eyes,
but do watch out for
all those homemade knives… 

You know what’s right
and what lies ahead,
just fight with all your might
or else you’ll be dead…

Your enemy is
your day by day friend,
you are both fighting for
the devils promised land…

Because violence and hatred
will always lead you astray
then into the pit of fire
that’s where you’ll stay…

And remember this always
war is not a game,
rather die with honor
but never live with shame

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.

Tri Sang Ly

Tri Sang Ly is a Vietnamese poet who is incarcerated in California.