I’ve had dreams’ Now faded far from reach I’ve had dreams Of terrible truths hard to teach Of sunny days yet sullen skies Contrast of love erupting From my lovers eyes, Tearful smiles, Havens embrace in the arms Of a fearful child Thanks from’ A swore enemy From to my wars long past Relief beseeched And received beneath A tyrants un-severed Warm benevolent rains From wounded we all grow Into beautiful broken things. By Travis Sicklovan #34849086 Federal Detention Center … [Read more...] about “BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN”
Letters
“TORN”
My sins are numerous My lies piles high My skin is stained with blood Women scarred know of my bite A broken man I am Breaking where I see fit Rules, law love, trust I’ve been loyal to none of this Dream have never held my breath The future died every morn Gladly numb, regrettably stuck I’ve become worse than torn. By Travis Sicklovan … [Read more...] about “TORN”
The Forgotten Women
Time in prison for transgender women can be at times like being in a foreign county. Not knowing who to treat, and to have your life put in the hands of some men that don’t have their best interest is very scary. How to trust someone that may think that being a transgender women is put about sex. I am a person before anything else. If given the chance I am capable of doing the same things that a man can do. But in a man’s prison we are the forgotten prisoner. Not truly being accepted for who I say I am and constantly judged because of … [Read more...] about The Forgotten Women
Dear Son
As I grew up My life was rough In order to survive I had to get tough I tried to do the right thing Keep my life together But things just fell apart My life was shattered.. We all have our problems Blind leading the blind Never stopping to think Using the full potential of our mind. The path I took had a a lot of twist and turns I was unable to slow down To practice and learn.. Now I sit here Paying the ultimate price Dear Son Don’t sacrifice your life! In a thousand and one ways I ask for your forgiveness This load I am … [Read more...] about Dear Son
The Race
Here I am again, Trapped in time and space Writing these letters It’s like a race… I’m out in front Got a good start Running full speed Pumping my heart… The challenge is beautiful I feel the finish line I think about everything That’s already been done.. I keep running To reach the finish line And I keep thinking I am running out of time.. I got in this race To stretch my limbs Too also nurture All my whims,, To feel the fire A livid flame To hear my mind Repeat my name. I’m running out of fuel But refuse to quit I … [Read more...] about The Race
500 POUNDS OF HAPPINESS
Most people consider happiness to be a feeling, without weight or substance. I know different. I witnessed the creation of 500 pounds of happiness before my very eyes at San Quentin State Prison in 2013. It’s not easy to make happiness; nor can you buy it. In fact, it is so rare that a slight dusting of it engenders a wondrous sense of well-being. That’s why it is usually perceived as only a feeling, not something tangible. I know the truth. Happiness is real. It has substance and weight. The happiness I’m taking about did … [Read more...] about 500 POUNDS OF HAPPINESS
“Right Here”
So where have I been all of these years? In a desolate land population by men The older the younger and many my peers So many displaced faces, races, different types of cases How am I living out my life sentence Well it takes a whole lot of sanity and patience Judge my words and see if I’m making it. I’m sentences to life with the eligibility to find out who I am Patience and faith gave me the ability to forgive, know why and understand I overlook the lies, upset and chaos and negative plans Avoiding strife, trading hatred to offer … [Read more...] about “Right Here”
There Is No Roadmap or Road Work
This life is about many things and this road we’ve chosen, this road in life is about acceptance. Accepting who you are, within the limitations of a hard old world. It is realizing that some times things in this heavy old world can squeeze you, and crush you, and drive you down into the dirt. But to survive, to keep going you have to lighten your load, you have to cast things aside that no longer matter, things that wear you down or weigh heavy on you. You need to find courage and embrace it, to keep going on. And sometimes you find it in … [Read more...] about There Is No Roadmap or Road Work
“CALINCARCERATION”
N.S.A. blames China while they steal your conversation Global Tel-Link servers reigning king of exploitation And, if you speak out on these things, there’s CALINCARCERATION It’s a nether world unique to western civilization While fingers point to the East we’re living’ in the lock-up nation The 1% keeps minimizing CALINCARCERATION C.C.P.O.A. perfecting no touch torture caging Security spin are drugs the sin what is the war they’re waging Last call SHU law Divided we fall This is CALINCARCERATION This is CALINCARCERATION Buried my … [Read more...] about “CALINCARCERATION”
MODERN PRISON RESISTANCE FIGURING OUT “THE MAN”
Two hundred and twenty five (225) years of American corrections has afforded the great oppressor, the prison industrial complex, a vast education in how to suppress free speech and quell prison insurrection and resistance. The disciplinary regulations, which are pretty much cookie-cutter consistent from state to state, are designed to make it near impossible to organize in prison or to engage in acts of civil disobedience as a method of shedding light on prison abuse and systemic failure: failure which diminishes public safety and promote the … [Read more...] about MODERN PRISON RESISTANCE FIGURING OUT “THE MAN”