Posted inPoetry

In Case I Die

by Jesse Ward February 23, 2022February 17, 2022

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In Case I Die

by Jesse Ward, Prison Journalism Project
February 23, 2022

<h1>In Case I Die</h1>
<p class="byline">by Jesse Ward, Prison Journalism Project <br />February 23, 2022</p>
 
<p>In case I die,</p>
<p>There’s something I want to say before it comes to take my life away.<br />I’m sorry this is the place I ended up in and now it looks like I’m going to<br />hurt you once again. You thought my time was almost through and,<br />that I’d get to come home to you. But COVID came to jail<br />and went cell to cell. The guards say they’ll protect me but I know its a lie, so<br />this is my last letter in case I die.</p>
<p>What else is there for me to say, my mistake threw my life away.<br />I never feared this place with its locks, chains and gates. Or society<br />that only looked upon me with hate. But a little virus shakes me<br />to the core and it's you that my heart fears for. If it gets me know<br />that I love you and please don’t cry. This is my last letter in case<br />I die.</p>
<p>It’s lights out and I have to go, whatever happens I want you to<br />know, you’re the greatest mom. Stay healthy, I promise I’ll try but<br />this is my last letter in case I die.</p>


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In case I die,

There’s something I want to say before it comes to take my life away.
I’m sorry this is the place I ended up in and now it looks like I’m going to
hurt you once again. You thought my time was almost through and,
that I’d get to come home to you. But COVID came to jail
and went cell to cell. The guards say they’ll protect me but I know its a lie, so
this is my last letter in case I die.

What else is there for me to say, my mistake threw my life away.
I never feared this place with its locks, chains and gates. Or society
that only looked upon me with hate. But a little virus shakes me
to the core and it’s you that my heart fears for. If it gets me know
that I love you and please don’t cry. This is my last letter in case
I die.

It’s lights out and I have to go, whatever happens I want you to
know, you’re the greatest mom. Stay healthy, I promise I’ll try but
this is my last letter in case I die.

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Jesse Ward

Jesse Ward is a writer incarcerated in Louisiana. He uses his time to help everyone affected by the criminal justice system.

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