Twenty SQRC residents, participants in a creative writing class called Brothers in Pen, took turns at the podium of the facility’s Chapel B on Friday, July 24, to unveil their latest creations in a public reading.

An appreciative crowd of incarcerated residents and outside guests attended the group’s Sixteenth Annual Public Reading, listened attentively, and responded with warm applause to the five-minute compositions based on Aesop’s fables. 

Event MC and San Quentin resident Kamsan Suon introduced Creative Writing Class instructor Zoe Mullery, who explained the format of the reading and provided some amusing background on the legendary Aesop.

Each writer rooted his story in one of the fables of the mysterious seventh-century-BCE figure who left us with familiar allegories such as “beware the wolf in sheep’s clothing,” “slow and steady wins the race,” and “a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.”

Mullery noted in the event’s printed program that “this prompt turned out to be harder than I expected. The fables are moralistic, sometimes very odd, sometimes harsh. There are dozens of versions and hundreds of fables. But as usual, the writers have come up with some interesting and fresh takes on the theme, as you will see.” 

Some of the resulting compositions evoked laughter with sagacious humor. Others were darker, or sad, inducing quiet, pensive responses from the audience. Overall, the creations proved well-written and thought-provoking. Nearly all of the writers began their time at the podium with a word of praise for Mullery and thanksgiving for her service to the class.

Following the tenth reading, an extended intermission allowed the audience to mingle with the writers and amongst themselves. Then the remaining 10 writers shared their work, and the event concluded with a Q&A.

The William James Association’s Prison Arts Project sponsors the annual event.