"War Within Myself" by Daniel K.

View this email on a browser Forward to a friend February 20, 2019   War Within Myself   Daniel K.

I've been fighting a War Within Myself all my life, Tired of the hurt, the pain, the strife. Anger consumes me from day to day, Cellies now walking on eggshells, unsure of what to say. I do pray each night for the peace that I need in my heart, I need it before I tear what friendships I have apart. Prison has a funny way of doing some things, Leaves me wondering what tomorrow may bring. I'm tired of the hate, anger and pain that I feel, I just want my heart and soul to be healed. I want to be able to simply laugh at a joke, I need someone to help me before I lose all hope. My heart is almost completely hardened with what I've been through, I need someone, anyone, maybe that someone is you. I'm fighting a War Within Myself, and I'm so tired, So nervous, scared, like I'm on a high tight wire. I hope that I don't fall before someone catches me, But then again... maybe it's my destiny.            Copyright © 2019 Daniel K. Used with permission of the author. About This Poem   This poem is published in partnership with Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop, an organization based in Washington, DC, that is committed to elevating and amplifying the voices of those directly impacted by the prison system. Through creative writing, job readiness training, and violence prevention outreach, Free Minds assists members, who are incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youths and adults, in realizing their own potential. The poet's last name is withheld on request in consideration of their privacy.  "Nightstick [A Mural for Michael Brown]" by Kevin Young from "Citizen VI [My brothers are notorious]" by Claudia Rankine "A Tempest in a Teacup" by A. Van Jordan February Guest Editor: Clint Smith   Thanks to Clint Smith, author of Counting Descent (Write Bloody Publishing, 2016), who curated Poem-a-Day for this month's weekdays. Read a Q&A with Smith about his curatorial approach this week and find out more about our guest editors for the year. Thanks for being a part of the Academy of American Poets community. To learn about other programs, including National Poetry Month, Poem in Your Pocket Day, the annual Poets Forum, and more, visit Poets.org.   You are receiving this e-mail because you elected to subscribe to our mailing list. If you would like to unsubscribe, please click here.   © Academy of American Poets 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 901, New York, NY 10038

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