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Illustration by Gary K. Farlow

It is late summer
The grass is green
And I long to feel
The sun on my face

The grass is green
As I press against the window
The sun on my face
And clouds begin to gather

As I press against the window
A raindrop splatters on the glass
And clouds begin to gather
As the sun fades to darkness

A raindrop splatters on the glass
I think of how long I’ve been inside these walls
As the sun fades to darkness
Like life, slowly slipping away

I think of how long I’ve been inside these walls
Losing touch, bit by bit
Like life, slowly slipping away
In this southern cinderblock hell …

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.

Gary K. Farlow is a writer and the author of “Prisonese: A Survivor’s Guide to Speaking Prison Slang.” He is incarcerated in South Carolina.