Penned In: A collection of Literary creations from both sides of the fence

By Andrea P L Winterbottom, I.M. GreNada and Peter Williams

"Penned In" is a literary jewel with poems and stories from voices on both sides of the fence. Creative writing teachers, volunteer teachers and inmates at a medium-security Fraser Valley correctional institute share their writing. Some are now on parole, some have been transferred and some still attend creative writing classes to nourish their sp

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jupiter Literary Press
• Release date: Dec 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9780986672118

Book preview

Ode to the Guys

Joy Haskell

Abused and Broken

So Angry, No Jokin

Paying for their crimes

In the Institute of sin

Judged, in the slammer

Demoralized and Detained

In some place that can make you insane

Society casts their stones and sz they have to pay

But really? They can’t even shit where they stay

That’s messed up, so here’s what I got to say

They all have dreams and a longing

Some are romantic, it’s true

Some are intellects, even smarter than you

Some can rhyme and make you look like a fool

So fuck you and this institute for sin

Don’t demoralize

To the men of Matsqui know this truth

Someone paid the ultimate price for sin

And you are not evil in His sight

Be bold and confident

Come to the Cross where He sacrificed

Because you are precious in His sight

I Hurt

Ed Griffin

I get out of my car on Friday morning

My class starts in thirty minutes.

I grieve when I see the razor wire

Why is that necessary?

I am angry

I count over a hundred cars in the parking lot

For three hundred inmates?

What is this place about?

Correction for inmates or jobs for people?

I am sad—so many jobs, so little reform

In the principle entrance

It’s usually light-hearted banter with the guards

But sometimes, it’s …

Creative writing? Those dummies can’t even spell.

I want to argue

I teach my class and it’s a lot of fun

Learning and laughter and connection

Students reach me and I reach them

We reach the spirit level through show, don’t tell.

And then it’s over and I have to leave.

Goodbye is hard

I walk back to the car

Some revolutionary I turned out to be

Meek, obeying the rules

When I should be on the ramparts

Shouting, End this travesty.

I condemn myself

I’m saying goodbye to my students,

I’m leaving part of me.

I go home, but I still hurt

The litany scrolls in my head …

They have no computers, no freedom,

No respect, no family around them

I hurt

But my students hurt more

I hurt, they hurt,

Even staff people hurt deep down

They know it doesn’t work

The razor wire surrounds hurt

Everyone hurts

What can I do?

I try to make people laugh

Laughter is the opposite of