ARCADE BEHIND PRISON
POETRY: BY – JOSEPH MAXWELL SPENCER
On the eve of your release
Your apprehension and excitement
Pumping your arms in the air
Showering the cell with sweat
Your head and neck roped with thick veins
How does it feel to be getting out?
He lays his hands on his lap
And stares blankly at the future
No one expects to get out of prison to fail
Watch out for that arcade behind prison
***************************
On the day of your release
Extremely nervous, more than ever
Wild hope blossoms in your chest
No time for headache to taint your release
Waiting for the officers to extract you at dawn
What’s the first thing to do when you get out?
He tilts his head and eyes
Glistening with emotion at years lost
No one expects to get out of prison to fail
Watch out for that arcade behind prison
***************************
On the day after your release
Other emotions overshadowing your happiness
The stress of exiting into the world
Being pushed to your psychological extremes
Prejudices out there to face and manipulate
What’s more to life than the pursuit of money?
Bracing ahead with the conviction of his own morality
Crossing the line again will land you back in prison
No one expects to get out of prison to fail
Watch out for that arcade behind prison
END
- Year 2019 Longford Trust Pinter Poem Award @ HMP-Leeds. Poem titled: Arcade behind prison.
- November 2018 InsideTime Star Poem of the Month winner @ HMP-Whatton. Poem titled: Arcade behind prison. https://insidetime.org/poetry/arcade-behind-prison-star-poem-of-the-month/