Calling all poets! CorrectionsOne’s poetry column highlights some of the inspirational, moving and funny poems authored by our readers.
This month’s poem was written by Sgt. Taylor, who has been a deputy sheriff for 11 years. During that time, he has worked many assignments including classification gangs and as a maximum security jail admin supervisor. Sgt. Taylor wrote the poem in response to the high rates of recidivism he sees on a daily basis.
“I’ve had fathers, sons and grandchildren in jail all at the same time. I’m an inquisitive person and will try to understand why folks are constantly returning. I try to give them a spark of an idea of ways out of returning to jail. How many people will not be victimized if you can change one career criminal?” asks Taylor.
Email your submissions for consideration to editor@correctionsone.com.
These Walls
Caught inside these walls of concrete and steel
The keeper of the broken
Whom care not whom they hurt
Nor how other feel
I walk the blue line
And take the lawlessness to task
I carry out the judgment
That the judge does now pass
Presiding over criminals
Takes its own cruel toll
It hardens your heart
And scares your very soul
Ignorance reigns
And denial does to
As none can admit
To what they did do
They accused me of this
They say I did that
Just cut to the chase
And admit to the fact
Nothing ever changes
Till you admit to the truth
And return you shall
Till you lose all your youth
Broken and old do you have to finally be
Till you see you hurt others
The ones you love
With your lawlessness and hypocrisy.