Poem from James...'To Awaken'

[M's B]

I recieved this poem from a inmate at Pelican Bay

“To Awaken”

It’s not a dream……
What if you awake to never know freedom as before
To forever wear the weight of suppression
As your chains threaten to weigh you to the floor
What if you awake to never know the approval of your father
To hear the pride in your mothers voice and know them as adults
And finally understand why they never gave up and always continued to bother
What if you awoke to never know the love of a woman again
To know in your heart who she really is
As your fingers play across the fairness of her skin
What if you awoke to never know the laughter of your own child
To never see your eyes in his own gaze or your laugh in her funniest moment
Never to take that family photo in which everyone gladly smiled
What if you awoke to know that you’ve done irreversible and unnecessary harm
And wonder how any man or woman with honor learns to balance
Their personal want of freedom with societies understandable alarm
What if you awoke to know life forever more in societies human zoo
Where honor is rare and true friends even rarer
And the weak prey on the weaker for no better reason than the want of something to do
To awaken to the heavy hammer of awareness shapes or destroys
So when you awaken to all of this and possibly even more
You either find the strength to stand
Or die on that god dammed dirty floor
I choose to stand……. J. 4-19-02

Ms'b

[soraya]

really nice poem....I have tears in my eyes

[Kristin]

Make one to think about the world we are living in.....
and how lucky we really are

[Shortie]

i really like that thank you for sharing..

[Sshari2002]

I want you to know how wonderful I think James work is....he is extreamly talented and would like him to know that I pray for him that he keeps writing and that he keeps safe and sane. God bless him and God bless YOU MsB. for sharing his work with us!

[Barbara]

Thank you so much, I think I am going to put this poem on the insite of some of the greeting cards he has drawn. What do you think about that?

[lulu]

that made me cry.

[Cameo]

Your right Barbara this was really deep, but beautifully worded. Talent runs very deep in James! He truly sees more than many of us, I think!

Thanks Barbara and yes I think it would be great in his cards!

Pamela

[troysgl]

that was a beautiful poem and it make me cry.

[Sshari2002]

Excellent idea Barbara! I wwould love to see them. Is he allowed to sell anything like that? I'd be interested to know!

Much love....
Shari

[Sshari2002]

To answer my own question, i just went and looked and yes, you CAN purchase these drawings in post card form! Great idea and well worth the small price!

[twomanyhearts]

Barbara,

Thank You for sharing. Please tell James that his words speak of a man who's spirit has been bruised and dented but not broken. It tells of the pettiness of mankind but it also reminds you to focus on the small simple things of life that we all take for granted until they are taken away. Would you please pass on to James that I appreciate that a man like him that have been sripped of freedom, dignity and all identity stills posses compassion and believes in mankind
and that with his permission; I would love to post this "heart wretching" poem in a special place in my house.

Thank you once again, Barbara for sharing. I hope you will continue to share all these beautiful gifts that you have been so forunate to have bestowed upon you.

[Barbara]

I have read this poem a dozen times and it still brings tears to my eyes. To see things so much deeper than most, and to have the ability to put those things on paper, in words, for the world to see. What a blessing! Yes, it does make one think about the world that we live in, as well as realize all of our fortunes that we take for granted. You are amazing James.
-Heather

[Soul SLiver]

Simply beautiful! Flows so well and holds a tremendous amount of emotion!

[linda davis]

His poetry is so powerful. I enjoyed To Awaken. Thank you MsB it means so much to me