Sad but great story. This is why i think it important to allow mail submissions, some prisoners can only submit by mail. I co-edit Earthshine, and we sometimes get handwritten or typed mail submissions from prisoners. I see us as a witness sometimes. Their poems are often a window into dark places that are looking for light.
Reading poems and letters from prisoners made me realize how seldom we see handwriting these days. I still write most 1st drafts and take notes in longhand. But I would not recognize the handwriting of most of the people I know in real life.
So beautiful and sweet. I love his poem too, all of it but the line “Avoid mistaking sadness for blueberries”—it’s one of those lines I wish I’d written myself.
I've read the 3 poems on Rattle. It is true, he had a gift. Thanks for sharing this wonderful poem.
this is great !
Wow, his story broke my heart. Thank you for sharing. Your poem is a lovely kind of sad.
This is a brilliant post. So many feelings have rushed through me. Thank you for sharing it all.
Love this, both the essay and the poem. This tribute, too, to those who write great stuff, just a little, then disappear.
So lovely.
I love this story.
Sad but great story. This is why i think it important to allow mail submissions, some prisoners can only submit by mail. I co-edit Earthshine, and we sometimes get handwritten or typed mail submissions from prisoners. I see us as a witness sometimes. Their poems are often a window into dark places that are looking for light.
Reading poems and letters from prisoners made me realize how seldom we see handwriting these days. I still write most 1st drafts and take notes in longhand. But I would not recognize the handwriting of most of the people I know in real life.
So beautiful and sweet. I love his poem too, all of it but the line “Avoid mistaking sadness for blueberries”—it’s one of those lines I wish I’d written myself.