From the very beginning of Prisoner Express, we have received poetry from prisoners. As we received more submissions we took the hint and began to feature prisoner poems in our newsletter. With the help of volunteers we have staged a number of public readings of prisoner poems, as well as conducted poetry contests for prisoners who wish to participate. Poetry provides a means where the prisoners we work with can freely express themselves. We invite you to read their writings and step into their world.
Click here to see the anthologies, and see recent posts below.
The poem above, Dead End, is what we call a “place poem”. Places which were special in people’s lives serve as very evocative prompts. Note how we get so much of the poet’s story from the details described in the poem. These are the prompts which were provided in the assignment: Chapbooks must have…
Read MoreThis is a poem from Secret Indictments, written by Robert Andrew Bartlett Sr. Mr. Bartlett resides in North Carolina. He writes about his ex- and his experience with the courts. I’m not a fact checker: I’m a poet. It’s a compelling story, beautifully written. This is his truth. Dead End Turn left at the ranch…
Read MoreAnother poem from Requiem for the Latent and Lamented Soul, written by Timothy D Raddatz. Mr. Raddatz resides in Minnesota. I love the word play. I read this several times; it gets better. Angels and Demons Angels dance and sing while they play gleefully. Demons twist and writhe at the thought. Angels cry and weep…
Read MoreThis is the beginning of the opening poem from Requiem for the Latent and Lamented Soul, written by Timothy D Raddatz. Mr. Raddatz resides in Minnesota. The title of the collection is very descriptive of what was found inside. The movement and the intensity here demand attention. Wheel of Lost Running river Running wheel Wheel…
Read MoreI promised to share some of the poems we received as part of the chapbook project. This is the opening poem from Take Pleasure from Pain, written by Andre D Underwood. Mr. Underwood resides at the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution in Florida. He sent a very real, insightful collection starting with his first love. Kalifornia…
Read MoreThis edition of the Prisoner Express Poetry Anthology stands alone, as all of the entries were received during the pandemic. Those of us on the outside have a better understanding of the effects of isolation on our well-being. In prisons everything shut down and prisoners often watched the virus spread in their ranks. Many suffered,…
Read MoreLast time I wrote about how I got involved in a chapbook project with Prisoner Express while hunkered down at home during the pandemic. But that’s not the only place my words traveled this year. I was selected to be part of a digital archive project that is literally out of this world: Writers On…
Read MoreLike many people, I spent about 15 months at home during the pandemic. But my words have traveled widely. I learned about Prisoner Express from my Cornell junior. But I didn’t really think much about the program, since I was busy in my own lane. Two things changed that. One, the much loved founder of…
Read MoreI am no longerthe woman I was back then.Wife. Daughter. Shadow. Elizabeth Wolf An exciting new program this cycle is a chapbook club made possible by author Elizabeth Wolf, who has donated 300 copies of her poetry chapbook Did You Know. A chapbook is a book of poems that relate to a central theme and…
Read MoreHundreds of prisoners send in thousands of poems to be considered in every Prisoner Express Poetry Anthology. Every participant who submits a poem is mailed a copy of the anthology. Seeing their work in print, even knowing someone is reading their words has a tremendous impact on inspiring incarcerated men and women to reflect and…
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Current & Past Poetry Anthologies from Prisoner Express
Here's some of the past anthologies we've printed and mailed to prisoners enrolled in our poetry programs. All of these anthologies are available for download and printing (see our copyright statement below) – simply click the PDF you'd like to download.
Terms of Use & Copyright:
All of the work collected and available in this archive is owned by, and all rights reserved, to the author. If you would like to use, distribute, or change any of the work presented in this archive you must have explicit permission from the author.
Please notify us if you would like assistance contacting any of the authors featured in the Prisoner Express Archive.