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Open Poetry #19
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Slammed Shut
| Open Poetry #19 |
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Slammed Shut |
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BluesSerenade Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549By the Seaside 
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'Psycho ward, outpatient' the rawest kind of humor printed on t shirts meant to make a fast buck; seems like a crime to me. After touring the cell blocks where I was allowed to step inside. Placing my hands against the bars, the walls closing in around me was an experience I'll not soon forget. The voices spoke of a deathly kind of existence unlike any history lesson I've ever learned, walking me down the corridors, left me fascinated by their tales. A firm pull on the lever closed fourteen doors at a time in a mere thirteen seconds. Each 250 pound hardened-steel-barred door, jammed and locked; with an explosive crack of metal thunder slammed shut. Makes it difficult to comprehend much less try to put into words. The essence of the American justice system that was Alcatraz, and the cold hard truth that best describes the slammer. Yet each man never felt comfortable outside of his cell where he was left alone with his thoughts. No matter how often he looked out across the bay seeing where he wanted to go, it was all there he said. Only to be released years later and discover the world he once knew he could no longer keep pace with, or fit into. So like the changing of the guards suddenly becomes unsettling, and all too familiar. It appears that the inmates became intimate with every bump on the wall memorizing every pattern on the ceiling every cold hard truth that was Alcatraz, would remain in their mind's eye for a lifetime long after the lights went out. Wrapped in their cold and dark jail cells. The inmates were alone, imprisoned, perhaps by their own thoughts, and yet the nights were never still. *Inspired by my trip to Alcatraz* [This message has been edited by BluesSerenade (02-24-2002 10:41 PM).] |
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Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (big hugggsssssss) This is so very sad, sweet friend, I have never been to Alcatrez but I can understand it must have been so very saddening to see so many imprisoned people there and how crime seems to affect everyone there! (sigh) My heart goes out to them all, sweet friend, we all love you so much, God Bless your loving and compassionate heart! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet friend, thank you for sharing!  May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton [This message has been edited by Mistletoe Angel (02-24-2002 10:49 PM).] |
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mirror man Senior Member
since 2001-01-08
Posts 814 |
This is difficult to respond to. I have very little sympathy with criminals, but at the same time I cringe at the lessons these people learn from the kinds of things one hears about going on in these places. A hard read but a good write. |
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Victoria
since 2000-08-12
Posts 5869 |
I also have a pic of me behind those same bars...can you believe how small those cells are?..Hope you had a good time with your sisters..hugs ~Vic |
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SEA
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
I bet it was amazing and the vibes must have been unreal....I will have to get over there now, you definately got my curiosity up  |
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BluesSerenade Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549By the Seaside |
Noah~ It was more frightening than sad. It was quite the experience is all I can say and I felt compelled to write about it. Thank you for reading. Mirror Man~ I certainly am not condoning criminals or trying to justify their behavior. It was something so see and a harsh reminder of where I never want to be. It's a big bad world out there and I don't ever want to end up in the thick of it. |
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BluesSerenade Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549By the Seaside |
Hi Victoria~ I can't even begin to tell you how much fun I had with my sisters. It was truly the best of times. Thanks and *huggers* I missed this place. SEA~ You just 'so' have to go there, it's incredible and worth every minute. Not that I wanted to spend all night! Thanks SEAgal, you know I like hearing from you. |
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RosePetal
since 2001-08-26
Posts 2985South Florida |
I'd hate to be in jail, its a terrible place to be! Some of the inmates are in for minor offenses while others are hardened criminals! Thanks for sharing this! |
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amusemi Senior Member
since 2001-12-08
Posts 1262A State of Disarray |
As a CA native I grew up with stories of Alcatraz. The heinousness of the treatment was heartwrenching. Thank you for sharing this. |
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BluesSerenade Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549By the Seaside |
RP~ I know, it's hard to imagine livng a life behind bars, I suppose that is what I found so haunting. Thanks for reading. amusemi~ I'm a native of California myself and like you, I've heard the stories but have never been to Alcatraz. It doesn't necessarily become all the more real as it is chilling. Thanks. |
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Bill Charles Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619highways, & byways, for now |
BluesSerenade - from reading this writing I can see that the visit did leave an impression on you. A place that I would never want to be for sure... BC |
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Cpat Hair
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793 |
imprisoned... I see the visit had an influence on you...and while not against imprisonment for criminals there is indeed a chilling reality to see and experience what it is like to have those doors close you in. Nicely done.... |
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BluesSerenade Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549By the Seaside |
BC~ It was an experience for sure. It's something we often hear about and don't have the opportunity to see. It did leave somewhat shaken, as if you couldn't tell. Thanks~Cpat~ You are tuned in to exactly what it was that I was writing about. It is hard to fathom what life must be like when controlled by a set of keys that lock and unlock our freedom. It is beyond my comprehension. Thanks for reading. |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
Turns out that when I was a little guy, and my brother "littler" yet, we boarded a Greyhound out of downtown New Orleans, La, headed for an aunt's house someplace out west. It was a vacaction and we were going to spend several weeks there, only my aunt had a family emergency and had to leave. So Mom, back in New Orleans, contacted Greyhound and they notified the police in the next town at which the bus would stop, and the police picked us up. Well, we were scared to death (but they were really nice to us), and one of the things they did to amuse us was let us be locked in a cell. It was fun at first, but then they wouldn't let us out - we were really scared. I, to this day, remember the feeling of being behind those bars, locked in for ten minutes that seemed like a lifetime. I really feel for those locked behind bars - but I feel even more for the victims, (both in the victimized family and the felons family) and when it comes to "murder, death, kill", I have no sympathy for the felon, or the treatment of the felon. Life is too good for them. The victim has no life - the victim can't see, talk, dream, eat, pace the floor, take a bath, hurt, feel angry, sad, miserable, and all the other things the living can, even while incarcerated. I feel really sorry for the percentage of innocents caught in the web of victimization and go to jail for the true felon...but the felon...sorry. Of course, all the above has reservations as it should, depending on the the nature of their crime, etc., but in general... Anyway...I also spent a few hours in Yuma (Arizona) and it's prison...and I agree with your sentiments in this very well written and intresting piece. Thanks for letting us see what your saw...in all the ways you saw it. easy... jimmy |
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Dark Stranger Member Patricius
since 2001-03-19
Posts 13631West Coast |
it is not fair to send you there it has been closed for sometime now you were not that bad were you? I have spent many nights watching the rock from a prison on the 40th floor of a highrise hotel well done lady |
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Tracey Member Elite
since 2001-08-29
Posts 2808where insanity meets breeding |
Sounds like a pretty miserable place to be incarcerated. Glad you were only there for a short visit. Though, I must say, while your poem spoke of the misery of the place, and I started to feel a little sorry for those locked up there, I then started to think of the misery they had wrought on someone else’s life, to find themselves there. I’m afraid, I can’t feel too badly for them. Good poem though, you got me to think after an evening at the pub…and that’s an accomplishment!! Lol If she who dies with the most toys wins, then can I have some toy boys please? |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
*w maybe you should have taken a certain kid we know...see if it would scare him into behaving ..glad you enjoyed your sisters visit..but I am especially glad you have returned safely hugs M "For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. |
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BluesSerenade Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549By the Seaside |
Hi jwesley~ Thank you for sharing your experience. I can imagine that 10 minutes would seem like hours turning into days. I much prefer being an outsider looking in than the other way around. Thank you Sir. Dark Stranger~ It depends on what you mean by bad! LOL~ I try my best to be good. thanks~ Tracey~ I too came away with mixed emotions, but like the old saying goes, don't do the crime if you can't do the time, which I am continually pounding into my sons head. I fear for him sometimes and that is what unsettles me most. Thank you Tracey. Maureen~ I had the best time with my sisters, and you are right he needs to have the you know what scared out of him and I do believe if he saw the place he might think twice about his actions and spouting off at the mouth. Thank you for your kind words and understanding. [This message has been edited by BluesSerenade (02-26-2002 03:36 PM).] |
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