Creative Commons License

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

Dimly lit room with open windows
Photo by Shttefan on Unsplash

I’m in a lonely tiny cell.
Light’s not working, reminds me of hell.
Food’s late again, oh well.
Portions are so small. I’m over 6 feet tall,
Is that all? I need money on my books.
With unfair restitution, who’s the crook?
I hear people around me making noise all night.
So sleep is a luxury, don’t believe the hype.
There is no mirror,
So I begin to wither.
Maybe someone will visit me.
They gotta see this place is a bust, please.
I hope every day for a better situation.
Guards are so ignorant with no hesitation.
The public, I believe, is my only real hope.
This is the only way I seem to cope.
Unfortunately, this is my assignment.
You are a witness to harsh solitary confinement.

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.

Archiri Geh is a poet incarcerated in California.