Poetry is not the exception to the rules of perfection.
One can find their freedom by the way he/she/they/them chooses to live life behind bars.
Blas “Frank” Chavez, (no relation to the interviewer) has been incarcerated for over eight years.
A poet at heart, Chavez tries to find his own freedom through the narrative of his thoughts.
The artist uses his poetry to transform other people’s perception by bringing awareness to other incarcerated residents of what humanity should look like within prison walls.
According to the artist, words have the power to touch the soul of those who need healing.
The poem “Shattered Glass” gives his perception about the tribulations endured before, during, and after incarceration. Metaphorically speaking, he compares human beings to glass. According to Chavez, we are beautiful on the outside, but brittle on the inside.
“There is beauty and truth in poetry and that has complimented my life’s serenity,” said Chavez. “This was revealed to me in that eureka moment.”
Through his incarceration, poetry has been the vessel that has kept him motivated. Emotionally, it has supported him in his prison journey. He considers poetry as a way to self-medicate in his rehabilitation.
He recognizes that there is a huge disconnect in the world with the progression of technology.
To encourage inspiration behind prison walls, the creative writer encourages others to allow their horizons to open up by giving literacy a chance. By putting down their tablets and smart devices, to read a book, write a poem, or write a memoir. You will be surprised what you can discover.
“Everyone is overly consume with technology by staring into the abyss of social distortion,” Chavez said. “And you miss out on real life as the world moves about around you.”
His perception of the world is complicated in comparison to everyday life in society. From anomalies to the status quo. Chavez noted that it can be complicated to put thoughts into perspective as he expresses his view of the world.
“A Special Moment in Time” is a poem that reflects how precious life is, while highlighting how it goes unappreciated by other people who don’t appreciate their time on earth. The poem talks about how overly consumed people are with irrelevant and minuscule things that take their time away from the more important things, when in fact it is more important to be grateful under any circumstances and value every moment including those moments behind bars.
“To Be Humble” is dedicated to the unselfish person wherever they are. More often than not, society makes the rules of what is an acceptable behavior within social circles. The author, however, expresses how kindness is always interpreted as a weakness inside prison. In his opinion, it’s the reason why many shy away from displaying these types of attributions.
The author understands this ideal in prison because no one wants to be characterized as weak or vulnerable.
“After all it’s a dog eat dog world we live in and every man tends to look out for himself. Its survival of the fittest and not of the most considerate”. He added. “This poem brings it back down to the basics free [from] judgments, walls, or barriers and defines one who has deep compassion for his fellow man or woman and with the appreciation of the world we live in.”
