Posted inPoetry

Shadow

by Douglas Gordon November 22, 2022November 18, 2022

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Shadow

by Douglas Gordon, Prison Journalism Project
November 22, 2022

<h1>Shadow</h1>
<p class="byline">by Douglas Gordon, Prison Journalism Project <br />November 22, 2022</p>
 
<p>Looking out the window of my cell<br />There is nothing but whiteness<br />There is nothing but whiteness<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;because there is a film on the window<br />Is the film to keep me from seeing out?<br />Or to keep others from seeing in?</p>
<p>There is a tiny tear at the top of the window<br />Looking out the tear I see a steel mesh<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;fence and razor wire above that<br />When the sun hits, the fence —<br />No, a SHADOW of a fence covers the window</p>
<p>A tiny bird lands on the fence<br />No, a SHADOW of a tiny bird lands on<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;the SHADOW of the fence<br />I watch the bird fly away<br />I mean, the SHADOW of the bird<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;flies away</p>
<p>Is the film on the window to keep me<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;from looking out?<br />Or to keep you from looking in?<br />It doesn’t matter because it is all just<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a SHADOW of freedom.</p>


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Shadow of a bird on a fence as metaphor for solitary confinement — Photo by Dijana Malbasa on iStock

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Looking out the window of my cell
There is nothing but whiteness
There is nothing but whiteness
because there is a film on the window
Is the film to keep me from seeing out?
Or to keep others from seeing in?

There is a tiny tear at the top of the window
Looking out the tear I see a steel mesh
fence and razor wire above that
When the sun hits, the fence —
No, a SHADOW of a fence covers the window

A tiny bird lands on the fence
No, a SHADOW of a tiny bird lands on
the SHADOW of the fence
I watch the bird fly away
I mean, the SHADOW of the bird
flies away

Is the film on the window to keep me
from looking out?
Or to keep you from looking in?
It doesn’t matter because it is all just
a SHADOW of freedom.

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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: Isolation, Massachusetts, Solitary Confinement

Douglas Gordon

Douglas Gordon is a writer incarcerated in Massachusetts.

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