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Silhouette of a man visiting two graves at a cemetery.
Photo by Soroush Alavi on Unsplash

If I died today, would anyone grieve for me tomorrow?
Is there someone who cares enough to express
sadness and sorrow?

If I died today, would anyone remember my face, or would I
just fade away without a trace?

If I died today, would anyone need to be consoled with a
hug or would I be cast away before my grave could
even be dug?

If I died today, would anyone tell stories about my life?
Will they reminisce on good times we shared
and stow away all the strife?

If I died today, would anyone stain their cheeks with
tears? I often wonder, does anyone realize that these
are just a few of my fears?

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.

Justin Cantwell is a writer incarcerated in California.