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Photo illustration by Jillian Wesner (Source: Unsplash)

Rivers rain, rainbows flow, engaging as they go,
Happy waves dancing blind into the beach;
Lonely crowds like vapor dying, they don’t know.

How great some people look when they are low,
Useless washing soul — water, soap and bleach;
Rivers rain, rainbows flow, engaging as they go.

Sweetened good poison willingly will flow,
No one is wanting, there’s plenty for each;
Lonely crowds like vapor dying, they don’t know.

Open your eyes, stop feeding the crow,
Weeping like babies, they call it a speech;
Rivers rain, rainbows flow, engaging as they go.

How laughter goes fast and crying moves slow,
It’s time for reflection, pointless to preach;
Lonely crowds like vapor dying, they don’t know.

Child’s innocence, too late, it’s time to grow,
Searching in darkness the hope you can’t reach;
Rivers rain, rainbows flow, engaging as they go,
Lonely crowds like vapor dying, they don’t know.

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.

Biktor B. is a writer and published poet incarcerated in California. He writes under a pen name,