Creative Commons License

Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.

Iron bars covering a window with light coming in
Photo by Xalanx on Depositphotos

The guard says visitation’s over. I turn to my wife ’n say it’s time for us to part —
until we meet again, keep my memory in the corners of your heart.

Just like other tearful families, only love knows what’s going on in our minds;
whatever words we want to say are hard to find.

Like puppy dog lovers, we hold hands; we gaze into each other’s eyes — what an emotional rescue we share as we see the heavens go by.

Sadness creeps into our bones, into the marrow.
Like the bard said, “Parting is sweet sorrow.”

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.

Charles Whitfield is a poet incarcerated in Arkansas.