Rage to Redemption: One Man's Journey from a Jail Cell to Real Freedom

By Joseph W. Hahne

Of the 17 years Joe spent living an out of control life on the edge, five of those years resulted in time behind bars in various county jails and prisons in three different states. It was during these times when he found himself locked up that Joe wrote hundreds of poems as a release from the many emotions he experienced while incarcerated.

The poems shared in Rage to Redemption were compiled and published in the order in which they were originally written. If you choose to read the poems in order from front to back, you will actually see a life transforming through the words on these pages. The book as a whole tells a beautiful story that starts with much despair and unfolds into a life of love, faith, hope and joy.

While Rage and Redemption has a spiritual base, it also contains some graphic imagery that portrays where the author's frame of mind was during his darkest hours. This book is full of pain, loneliness, inspiration and redemption.

There is something for everyone in this poetry, even if you are not a traditional poetry fan. They are real poems that were written by a real man who deals with real issues. Take a minute to read some of this work. We're sure you too will find something that touches you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 20, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456746858

Joseph W. Hahne

Joseph William Hahne grew up in rural Southwest Missouri and was, by all appearances, the all-American boy. He came from a great family, lived and worked on a ranch, and was a hometown sports hero with good grades. As a teenager, however, this wasn't enough. Joe craved acceptance from his peers and started experimenting with drugs and alcohol as an avenue to achieve this goal, but found that even this wasn't enough. He kept pushing the limit to find the next high that was better than the last. As a young adult, he found himself lost in a dark, out of control world of drugs, deceit, manipulation, and violence that resulted in 12 felony charges and 7 felony convictions. In 2008, while locked up in a solitary confinement jail cell, he made the decision to reach out to Jesus and found forgiveness, love and hope. Today he lives a life devoted to sharing the love of Jesus with others and helping them turn their lives around as Executive Director of Archangel Outreach Ministries, Inc. He also is a Pastor at The Healing Place Worship Center, a Church in Forsyth MO dedicated to helping those with similar stories get back on their feet and turn their lives around.

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© 2011 Joseph W. Hahne. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 5/25/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4567-4686-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-4687-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-4685-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011904214

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Inevitable

Mates

Dad

Fresh Start

Together

Judgment Day

Your Letter

Stay

Hard Time, Long Face

The Fool

Three Amigo’s

In The Stars

Beautiful One

Mother of a Different Kind

Gotta Change

Wonderful Mother

From Your Loving Son

Remember

Ugly Toad

To The Ladies Who Work Here

Only One

Eyes Wide Shut

New Birth

Children of this World

Shorty

Your Biggest Fan

Sing Another Song

A New Day

Our Love Is So Pure

Stand Your Ground

Griffin

Be My Wife

Happy Easter

Maybe It’s Purgatory

You Stayed Down

Stand On Your Shit

It’s This Way

Throw A Dog A Bone

Greed

Bow Wow Wow

Control

But First…

Regret

Filled

Just Ready To Eat

The Cure

Only Then

A Wonderful Life

My Valentine

It Is Near

Shine Bright

This Will Never Fly

Mother’s Day

Goodbye

Shorty

Re-Run

Father’s Day

It’s Not Your Fault

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Just A Country Boy

Listen To Your Heart

Out of Time

A Just and Righteous Cause

On The Brink

Baby

One Of A Kind

Meant To Be

Lonely

Wonderful Emotion

Snitch

Smitten

Fast Track To Hell

Clean Slate

Searching For Love

Here’s the Deal

Crown of Glory

Spiritual Warrior

‘Tis The Season

Your Gift

Your Special Day

Apple of Daddy’s Eye

When You Feel Yucky

Together

8 Second Ride

Basted

Little Buddy

Love Someone Who Hates You

Normal Thinkin’

Something Not Right

Hounds of Baskersville

All Can Be Saved

Rage

Living Life

Inner Child

Burn

Your Side

It’s Over

Next Door

My Everything

Product of the State

Butterfly Kisses

Ready to Ride

The Golden Rule

Your Face

Underneath the Moonlight

Flattered

East & West

Getting Blown

Wanna Sing

Bump on a Log

From Above

Jailers

The One I Miss

Ace

Messed Up Illusion

Stay Focused

Careful

Against the Grain

A Game

Upwards

Never Say Never

In Their Walk

Brother

Simple Action

Money

Country Boy

‘Tis The Season

Living Blinded

Empty Vessels

Happy Birthday

Thru The Years

Celebrating Easter

Something’s Gotta Give

Freak or Unique

Anger

Masculinity

Contract

My Valentine

Heaven

Just A Guy

By Their Own Hand

Celebrating The Irish

Bob

Stuck In This Enigma

A.I.

Healing Wounds

Enlightened

Little Man

Don’t Need This Life of Sin

Fighting Against The Malice

Sunshine

Emancipate

Heaven To Me

Stranger

Nickels Worth of Free Advice

Life As It’s Supposed To Be

Teddy

True Feelings

The Son

What’s Up?

Think Before

The Holy Cross

Stand Alone

I Wish

These Arms

Here Again

Simple Choice

Mother’s Day

Mom

Honored To Be Your Child

Sweetheart

My Everything

Don’t Want You Anymore!

Sealed Deal

Kasi

Prayer

The Right Thing

Semen Demon

Walk With Christ

Born Again

Worth The Chance

Blessed Church

Spiritual Soldiers

A Gift For Momma

Father Bill

Mrs. Mulloy

This Decision

Will Not Settle

Supplication

Forgive

Coincidence

My Best Friend

Listen To Your Heart

The Right Choice

Dream

May 28, 2008

Call On The Holy Spirit

The Golden Rule

Your True Father

Invitation

Jessica Ford

Continuous Help

Courthouse Clock

Better Than Any High

In This Letter

Burk-Heart

Donny

A Spiritual Plan

Stand Firm

Better Think Twice

Daniel

What I Seek

Kelsey Girl

In Your Spirit

The Good Word

Christy

Oh Lord

Listen Little Bro

Thank You Ed

Thinking About You

He Has Seen It All

First

Honkey’s

Trouble

Insane?

Truth Shall Set Me Free

Life

The Puppet Show

Cody James

I Miss…

This Place

Stand Up Guy

One Love

More Food

The Rest Of Your Life

A New Love

Turning Point

We Can Make It Work

Last Holiday Locked Up

D-Wing Family

Today Is The Day

My Heart’s Desire

My Queen

Think Before You Speak

No One Higher

Actions Speak Louder

My Life

Inner Strength

Manipulation

Personal Portrait

Testimony

Inevitable

Damn I’m in this stinking place again.

When am I going to get away from this life of sin?

This lifestyle is getting so old and mundane.

If I’m not careful I’m going to drive my family and myself completely insane.

I truly know that life doesn’t have to stay this way.

But if things are going to change there is going to be a bigger price to pay.

Times will be tough, things will be hard, this I don’t doubt.

At times it will feel like a 13 round heavy weight bout.

If I stay honest and truthful to myself and keep faith in the good Lord above,

It is inevitable that this life of mine will be filled with so much more love.

Mates

I am so lonely

Without my one and only.

When push comes to shove

Shining through is true love.

Mind races each and every night

The heart pounds the chest so tight.

Living in this place of sin

Each night I ask God when?

When I feel blue

I just think of you.

It must truly be fate

Coming together to be mates.

When times are so hard

I know I hold a trump card.

Holding things together like glue

What would I do without you?

I say this to you beautiful lady

Thank you so much for being my baby.

Dad

To a very special Dad

Please don’t be sad.

I know it would be better

If I wasn’t writing this letter.

My love is so strong

Even though I’ve done wrong.

You have no reason to take any blame

But I apologize for bringing you shame.

Dad, you did a great job raising me

Someday soon you are gonna see.

I’m gonna tackle this life of sin

For you’re gonna have your little boy again.

So on this special day don’t be sad

Because you are the world’s greatest Dad

Fresh Start

I’ve made things such a mess,

Now there is all this unwanted stress.

Things were going so well,

Now I’m stuck in a cell.

It was such a beautiful day,

Should have known I wouldn’t get away.

Time has passed by,

Trying not to ask why.

But no matter what you do,

Inevitably you’re gonna feel blue.

There is no reason to pout or mope,

With each new day there is always hope.

This is to the one that holds my heart,

I’m so excited about a fresh new start.

I’ve dreamt of you all my life,

A woman like you to be my wife.

You make me happy in so many ways,

I give thanks for your each and every day.

We will live our life together,

Saying our vows, committing forever.

When I look into your eyes I know it’s true,

For the rest of my life I will spend with you.

Together

This is to the one I met years ago,

Now in a relationship that will grow.

When I laid my eyes on you that first day,

I didn’t know or understand the beat my heart played.

Now looking back on time,

There is no doubt us together is divine.

Together forever I hope and pray,

To the fullest, together we will spend each and every day.

Judgment Day

For all things good, great and grand,

These things were created by Your hand.

Having the power to giveth and taketh away,

Turning their lives over, some people still delay.

You are the Almighty, the most powerful One,

To earth you sent your one and only Son.

He was crucified on the cross,

Most would say this was a great loss.

You allowed this to happen back then,

So persons today could be forgiven for their sins.

You are the most Holy of all,

Many people have and will come to be just like Paul.

Persons that are lost should truly look to You,

In the Bible we can find guidance from the saints such as Jude.

But to you Father we should worship and pray,

This is the only way to have no fear come Judgment Day

Your Letter

If you truly knew

How much I wanted you.

I really want you in my life

Hell I even thought about calling you my wife.

That day I got your letter

I thought things were gonna be better.

But then I read you didn’t want me

Now I sit back and I see.

That maybe you are not the one

After you wrote that you are done.

I can handle anything that comes my way

But at least I know when to run or when to stay.

I know things aren’t looking good

But I want to stand up like a man should.

You’ve got reason to be mad

But I’m your baby’s dad.

So if there is any way you see past this stuff

I know in my mind I can stand tough.

The decision is yours to make

I pray it’s the right one for both our sakes.

Alone, apart or maybe together

Your decision could change things forever.

Stay

Baby we are so far apart,

I am so sorry for breaking your heart.

You truly mean so much to me,

In my heart I wish you could see.

You really mean so much,

I wish I had one more touch.

You make me laugh and smile,

Hopefully, I’ll be here only a little while.

I am here working on my sins,

Will we ever have a chance