Every year, tens of thousands of our clients, brothers, fathers, mothers, sisters cousins and friends are locked up in the New York State prison system. They are shut away behind bars and stripped of their freedoms, opinions, and rights as human beings. Links Not Chains was created to give voice to those who much of our society wants to ignore, wants to forget, wants to keep silent.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Broken
By: H.B.
I was raised in a dysfunctional family...
So it's safe to say I was born broken
I am where I am from...
So the truth was spoken firmly
When i say I am the streets.
I am anger, I am pain
I am heartache, I am shame
I am broken...
Too destroyed to fix, too hurt too hate
And too tired to endure the wait
You discarded me battered
She acquired me broken
I entered this world bruised and bloody
Too dependent on consistent pain
It seems to me as if fate has spoken
She discarded me battered
You acquired me broken
I entered this world bloody and bruised
So as the cycle continues to mingle and fuse
Beware of a heart that will rarely open
And remember that I told you...
I was born broken!!!
*The work displayed in Links Not Chains belongs to the authors exclusively and the content reflects the opinions, feelings, and observations of the respective author only. Some of the names have been altered in order to respect privacy.
Untitled
By: Quay Dollar $
I wanna be a yung Black rich man like Akon...
Not die for bein a colored person wit a hoodie like Trayvon.
A lot of things people do, they don't mean it
But understand everything happen for a reason
Stop judgin the book by its cover
Looks are deceiving
Make a mess I am going to help you clean it.
Gentlemen style, freedom haven't seen in a while
Put on my suit and tie take a look at me now
Girls lookin like look at Quay, he amazing
Dark hair cut, 360 waves in it.
Can't change me, this who I am, my life ain't got no remote
Happy my mother still here, after them two strokes
Enjoy life, where i am at, it ain't even fair
Rikers Island gettin paid for me bein here.
Do wat chu want, don't let nobody control you
That will open a door, you tryna go through.
Truth be told...
*The work displayed in Links Not Chains belongs to the authors exclusively and the content reflects the opinions, feelings, and observations of the respective author only. Some of the names have been altered in order to respect privacy.
I wanna be a yung Black rich man like Akon...
Not die for bein a colored person wit a hoodie like Trayvon.
A lot of things people do, they don't mean it
But understand everything happen for a reason
Stop judgin the book by its cover
Looks are deceiving
Make a mess I am going to help you clean it.
Gentlemen style, freedom haven't seen in a while
Put on my suit and tie take a look at me now
Girls lookin like look at Quay, he amazing
Dark hair cut, 360 waves in it.
Can't change me, this who I am, my life ain't got no remote
Happy my mother still here, after them two strokes
Enjoy life, where i am at, it ain't even fair
Rikers Island gettin paid for me bein here.
Do wat chu want, don't let nobody control you
That will open a door, you tryna go through.
Truth be told...
*The work displayed in Links Not Chains belongs to the authors exclusively and the content reflects the opinions, feelings, and observations of the respective author only. Some of the names have been altered in order to respect privacy.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
No More Zoos
Submitted by: Dr. Giraff
Written by: Sally the Seal
The zoo keeper watches the gate
He stands firm and tall with plans to await.
The biggest threat coming from near and far.
They prohibit the animals from opening their minds and leaving the door ajar
Its his job to watch, listen and wait
To process the transition at those that escape.
The up building of the body,
The freedom, solace and future success
The escape of a life of havoc and mess
Its the goal of the zoo keeper to keep the zoo together,
Whether or not the animals care.
But as a human I dare to compare and declare
That I am free, free to be me, even if I'm in the inside, I will not hide.
Nor will I deny, that I have the ability to change and grow because only God know what the future holds, for all of us
So called Animals.
*The work displayed in Links Not Chains belongs to the authors exclusively and the content reflects the opinions, feelings, and observations of the respective author only. Some of the names have been altered in order to respect privacy.
Written by: Sally the Seal
The zoo keeper watches the gate
He stands firm and tall with plans to await.
The biggest threat coming from near and far.
They prohibit the animals from opening their minds and leaving the door ajar
Its his job to watch, listen and wait
To process the transition at those that escape.
The up building of the body,
The freedom, solace and future success
The escape of a life of havoc and mess
Its the goal of the zoo keeper to keep the zoo together,
Whether or not the animals care.
But as a human I dare to compare and declare
That I am free, free to be me, even if I'm in the inside, I will not hide.
Nor will I deny, that I have the ability to change and grow because only God know what the future holds, for all of us
So called Animals.
*The work displayed in Links Not Chains belongs to the authors exclusively and the content reflects the opinions, feelings, and observations of the respective author only. Some of the names have been altered in order to respect privacy.
Guess Who & Guess What
Yes fellow observers its me "Dr. Giraff" the founder of the Zoo. I sincerely apologize for not writing sooner, but so much has been going on and now I'll fill you in.
Thanks to our friends at Bronx Defenders, my lawyer Ms. Mar and a great Social Worker Ms. Harris I am in a substance abuse program. Yes its true I was in jail due to some poor judgement calls. Some of you may say "WOW a doctor in jail?" Well actually I'm a self- proclaimed doctor.
This simply means I was tired of my lifestyle so I decided to work on a cure. So I spoke to my lawyer, Social Worker and judge. Thankfully they worked with me and now I'm working on myself through a process called recovery.
We all make mistakes, but once you fall its about how you get up. Being a Giraff its a little difficult getting back up on all four legs.
However I am not giving up. It all started in the jungle. Not doing anything constructing or dealing with growth caused me to chose negative stuff.
Not only did I end up using drugs I also tried to sell drugs. This dragged me through the mud. A lot of other animals stayed away from me. My family stopped seeing me, they are hard working people so they wouldn't come to my neck of the woods.
Then I got arrested, that's where I came up with the idea to change. Being locked up felt awful, not being able to see family and friends, not being in control of my life.
No eating, the lovely trees, roaming and looking around as I please. Instead I was locked in a building only able to eat what they gave me leaving plenty of time to think about change. Now I am working on my true thinking I'm making changes and growing. I'll share a lot more with you all please check in on me weekly I have a lot to share.
*The work displayed in Links Not Chains belongs to the authors exclusively and the content reflects the opinions, feelings, and observations of the respective author only. Some of the names have been altered in order to respect privacy.
Thanks to our friends at Bronx Defenders, my lawyer Ms. Mar and a great Social Worker Ms. Harris I am in a substance abuse program. Yes its true I was in jail due to some poor judgement calls. Some of you may say "WOW a doctor in jail?" Well actually I'm a self- proclaimed doctor.
This simply means I was tired of my lifestyle so I decided to work on a cure. So I spoke to my lawyer, Social Worker and judge. Thankfully they worked with me and now I'm working on myself through a process called recovery.
We all make mistakes, but once you fall its about how you get up. Being a Giraff its a little difficult getting back up on all four legs.
However I am not giving up. It all started in the jungle. Not doing anything constructing or dealing with growth caused me to chose negative stuff.
Not only did I end up using drugs I also tried to sell drugs. This dragged me through the mud. A lot of other animals stayed away from me. My family stopped seeing me, they are hard working people so they wouldn't come to my neck of the woods.
Then I got arrested, that's where I came up with the idea to change. Being locked up felt awful, not being able to see family and friends, not being in control of my life.
No eating, the lovely trees, roaming and looking around as I please. Instead I was locked in a building only able to eat what they gave me leaving plenty of time to think about change. Now I am working on my true thinking I'm making changes and growing. I'll share a lot more with you all please check in on me weekly I have a lot to share.
*The work displayed in Links Not Chains belongs to the authors exclusively and the content reflects the opinions, feelings, and observations of the respective author only. Some of the names have been altered in order to respect privacy.
Last Words
By: Cipher16
Take me away from this place thus I have only brought pain,
Take me away from the species I have only shown shame,
Lift me from my feet for they are not lined with grains of a beach,
Object me from my siblings cause I have no reason to teach,
Remove me from my future bringing because it only screams defeat,
Separate me from loved ones cause I want them no longer to weep,
My goals are false my road is lost the price of life than has no cost...
I just wanna be successful before they close the coffin.
*The work displayed in Links Not Chains belongs to the authors exclusively and the content reflects the opinions, feelings, and observations of the respective author only. Some of the names have been altered in order to respect privacy.
Take me away from this place thus I have only brought pain,
Take me away from the species I have only shown shame,
Lift me from my feet for they are not lined with grains of a beach,
Object me from my siblings cause I have no reason to teach,
Remove me from my future bringing because it only screams defeat,
Separate me from loved ones cause I want them no longer to weep,
My goals are false my road is lost the price of life than has no cost...
I just wanna be successful before they close the coffin.
*The work displayed in Links Not Chains belongs to the authors exclusively and the content reflects the opinions, feelings, and observations of the respective author only. Some of the names have been altered in order to respect privacy.
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