Posted inPoetry

Five Senses

by E.D.H. June 13, 2022June 10, 2022

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Five Senses

by E.D.H., Prison Journalism Project
June 13, 2022

<h1>Five Senses</h1>
<p class="byline">by E.D.H., Prison Journalism Project <br />June 13, 2022</p>
 
<p class="poetry-indent">I see a lot of individuals looking worn out, beatdown, unhealthy, hopeless&nbsp;</p>
<p class="poetry-indent">and tired. I hear a lot of voices speaking of the past, but their present and future&nbsp;</p>
<p class="poetry-indent">have no highlights. I smell pleasant aromas of incense, mixed with alcohol</p>
<p class="poetry-indent">being prepared and foul body odors all cultivating in the same air. I taste recycled&nbsp;</p>
<p class="poetry-indent">tap water every time I feel thirsty or dehydrated. I feel the thin mat on my back&nbsp;</p>
<p class="poetry-indent">when I lay on a metal slab. With a cold concrete wall joined next to me like&nbsp;</p>
<p class="poetry-indent">twins that are born stuck together. One day of my life in prison,&nbsp;</p>
<p class="poetry-indent">these are my five senses.</p>


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A man walks through a dark, dilapidated building with blurry shafts of light — Photo by Echo Grid on Unsplash

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I see a lot of individuals looking worn out, beatdown, unhealthy, hopeless

and tired. I hear a lot of voices speaking of the past, but their present and future

have no highlights. I smell pleasant aromas of incense, mixed with alcohol

being prepared and foul body odors all cultivating in the same air. I taste recycled

tap water every time I feel thirsty or dehydrated. I feel the thin mat on my back

when I lay on a metal slab. With a cold concrete wall joined next to me like

twins that are born stuck together. One day of my life in prison,

these are my five senses.

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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.

Tagged: California, Life in Prison

E.D.H.

E.D.H. is a poet who was raised in Compton in Los Angeles. He is currently incarcerated in California. He has asked to be published under his pen name.

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