This poem first appeared in the August ’22 edition of First Amend This! Originally inserted into an article on prison profiteers, the title graphic, the same view I have when I look outside my window, contains 50 stars, 13 stripes, and was created using the limited formatting options I’m offered on my prison messaging device. As a short poem, it’s one of my favorites–and I’d love to see it published elsewhere if possible.
—————————————————–
****|****|****|****|****|****|*
…………!!!AME –> / <– RICA???
****|****|****|****|****|****|*
Too many a path
we pave
through
our people’s
broken homes,
lobbied by the likes
of pious corporations
who shape our country’s laws
to expand their market value.
—————————————————–
Note: This poem falls under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license , a choice made to allow it to be viewed in its original context in the American Prison Newspaper Archives (found within the academic database JSTOR).
Thanks for viewing.
Patrick Irving 82431
IMSI
PO Box 51
Boise, ID 83707
bookofirving82431.com
messaging via JPay.com