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A man walks on a narrow snowy road between two looming concrete buildings.
Photo by William Topa on Unsplash

Winters’ cold dark nights,
Bound behind these walls,
Clip the wings of dreams,
Of the souls within them.

Yesterday’s lost hopes,
Crushed by acts of folly,
Lead to cries for mercy,
But end in chains of bondage.

Yet tomorrow’s goals,
Formed behind these walls,
Propel our hearts to yearn,
For the dreams postponed.

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.

M. Yayah Sandi is a writer incarcerated in New Jersey. He requested that his first name be withheld.