Greetings! David Cross J. Cameron My name is Naomi! You‟ve Joe O‟Neal Tim Hampton all already heard from me this summer Don Collins William Chaplar but I just wanted to let you know how Jesus Fonseca Robert V. Fryer much of a pleasure it has been to William Chaplar John Lee Bodessa spend my summer reading your Chris Lockridge Chad Lawson poetry! I am currently a Cornell Robert Hambrick William Chaplair student, and back in May I was Paul Washburn Lysander White clueless on what I would spend my A Story That Should Be Told.4-8 Tim Hampton summer doing. However, I am so glad Tim Hampton Billy Lively I literally stumbled upon the Prisoner Jackey R. Sollars Ansen Stowers Express program. This program Robert Hambrick Santos Peña introduced me to a community of Eric Bederson Lucio Urenda people whose voices are silenced, William Miles Frank Johnson III whose humanity is often forgotten, James E. Meier Robert Deninno and who are in essence forgotten: Jackey R. Sollars Huero Williams prisoners. This program allowed me Eric Benderson Entrapment……………17-19 to hear your voices, to see your Eric Remerowski Vincent Garcia humanity. In particular, working with Ryan Collier Ray Charles Gary the poetry program renewed my love Ted Eason Tom Stone and respect for the art of poetry. It is Leslie Amison Dwayne Waterman extremely powerful to see men and Rickey Pearson Santos Pena women sharing their innermost C.F. Christian Shaun Morales thoughts and emotions, candidly and Frank Johnson III Eric Martinez without care for formality or Ben Winter Buster Swafford correctness. Reading your work Jason Forbes David Cross allowed to re-realize the power of Robert Fuentes Maurice Jones words, and the power of poetry. Thank Douglas Harris Anwar Tapia you all so much for your candidness, Curt Gambill Marcos G. Saias and your willingness to share, freely. The Air I Breathe………9-10 Robert Fuentes I‟m glad that you have chosen to Robert Hambrick Sketch confide in the Prisoner Express Gerald B. Prisock Travis Standlee program. Buster Swafford Something Bigger Than We…20-24 Jackey R. Sollars Preston Smith And, I‟m glad that I found the Jose Lauriano Di Lenola William Chaplar program, and you! R. Bailey Don Collins Eric Bederson Thee Gracious Poet Stay encouraged, Anonymous Brian Webster John E. Christ Sheena King Naomi A Thin Line Between Love and Duane Butler Hate……………………….10-16 Dave Gordon Robert L. Hambrick Torrance Maddox Hello to all the poets in the PE program. We Tim Hampton Jose Heladio Villarreal III received many submissions for consideration. James Glaze Greg Shattack Naomi and other volunteers read your works and Dave Gordon Michael Owens chose the poems that were included in this Jesus Fonseca Ryan Collier anthology. A few weeks ago we started putting Albert Pena Leslie Amison all the new poems received in a file for Travis Standlee Ben Winter Anthology#7 as this anthology was completed. Frank Johnson Jason Forbes WhoIn the I sameAm………………. way a number .of 1 -these3 poems were Charle s Christian Robert Hambrick submitted forSteven anthology Denni#s 5 , but as it was full we Felix Rodriguez C.F. Christian sent them over to this issue. The way to receive the next anthology is to submit a poem you have know more about the person you are. Too many stereotypes exist in this world, authored. This program is open to anyone who and while many generalities often contain some truth, none of us are generalities. chooses to write. I understand that for many of We are living, feeling beings, and within that we all are unique. We intend to you, your options for creative self expression provide you with a chance to be heard, understood and perhaps to generate some seem limited. Through poetry, and any other communication between you and others. We will post this anthology on our writing you do, you have the opportunity to website and your addresses will be listed if folks care to communicate with you. express what is inside you. Through the Prisoner As you know we are on the tightest of budgets, and are always searching for Express program, you then have an avenue for funds to keep these programs functioning. All donations can be made to people in the free world to read your words and CTA/Prisoner Express, 127 Anabel Taylor Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853 Stay Strong, Breathe Deep, Write On, Gary Steven Dennis Mind Perception I AM – WITH YOUR MIND, YOU Trampled and beat PERCIEVE BY CHOICE, Tossed out on the street Where my life seems to unravel take calling in the voice of trust… Hungry to eat Wearing state shoes on my Family, friend, lover, stranger on OTHERS WILL BALANCE IN feet the street WHAT YOU CANNOT KNOW, A different me for all for you remain alone until reality I AM – who I meet sets in… Starting to bleed Trying to treat them all Feeling the need the same SILENCE IS TO BE BLIND IN Not guided by In life that‟s how you WHAT YOU WILL NOT SEE, greed play the game come forward, heed to the voice of Always tempted opportunity… by speed Now the dwindling sands of time STAY CLEAR OF YOUR EGO, I AM – Have run out for me and AS IT IS A STRENGTH OF More than desire mine WEAKNESS, Free to aspire Loved ones gone, such a great loss keep open your mind and seek the Ready to fly higher Shall fate be left to a coin toss? path toward an open ear… Never a liar A man grown I must decide PATIENCE IS A CURE, WHILE I AM Alone with no one at my side STUBBORNNESS IS A COP- What I am A good life I did destroy OUT, Me Should have been mother‟s pride awareness is to be alert, where Steve Dennis and joy isolation brings seclusion, David Cross Joe O’Neal WE CANNOT READ Who I am If You Could See THOUGHTS, NOR FORSEE You think you know who I am If you could see inside me, what YOUR NEXT JOURNEY, Even though you don‟t give a would you that is certain, you are here, you damn hope to find, would it be the made a choice of reason. If I don‟t know who I am to be loneliness or darkness How can you think to know me that shows no feeling toward time. Jesus Fonseca If you could look inside me, and I I‟m the bad son of a good mother understand what I am Lenin, stillborn and hurled Loved me true like no other others try to see, would you get into a warped society, Broke her heart, destroyed her lost in my soul or I engage in battle with those who plans would you help struggle to see me diametrically oppose my ideology. Though I was in the best of hands free. I survive under an extreme If you could see inside me and situation called occupation, but Father cared there was no doubt understand what I‟ve I have managed to successfully Quickly forgotten when he‟d shout been going through, would you reverse my indoctrination. My love for him was deep and true stop, look and listen, or I am civilized and refined beyond I never gave him his just due would you let this happen to you. the dreams of the white man, and If you could look inside me, what now A man of many varied faces would you really I wage war with the parasitic Different me for different places hope to find? But while you‟re cowards who raped our women, Friends and family thought they looking, just remember and stole our land. knew the best of us fall down sometimes. I look around only to discover that Could not fathom the man into I If you could only see, this is not my kin has fled and forsaken me, grew what will happen to you and as a result if only you listen to me. I touch and can feel the scars You only know that which I show seared on my psyche. A new me every place I go Don Collins I have witnessed my forefather‟s A lonely road on which to travel war with racism, but now I see I must do the same against William Chaplar Emotions by another name. psychological fascism. Talents I am reflected in the eyes of those The talents we I am not here nor do I who lost their children on the razor possess are exist wire of social strife, what allow us I reply to myself I march in the phalanx of the to excel For my ransomed words pillars who through sacrifice And each of have been rebellious guaranteed me life. us can claim Between honed blades I am repulsed to see my people at least a few. by King of the knife bemused with a severe psychosis, So rather than My spun life was but at least improving at finished I no longer have to endure those things In dreams, by the mad society‟s hypnosis or social you don't do well, spinning spider neurosis. Get more proficient at those things For my death climbs the web with I refuse to conform to society‟s you do. her... norms, so subsequently I am eschewed and scorned cause Failed Rehab Robert Hambrick, I‟ve elected to march to the beat of I'm in jail for the times that I've The Wisdoms of Kropsometor- a different drum.