Written by Death-Row Prisoners HELPING PRISONERS ON DEATH ROW LIVE CONNECTED AND FRUITFUL LIVES

140 W. South Boundary Street | Perrysburg, OH 43551 July 2018 | Vol. 23 | Issue 103 (Bi-monthly)

Publishing compassionate and introspective articles written Unforeseen by death-row prisoners. hen I first came to prison in 1986, I was in proudly holding his food with his tiny front claws, Doing Time... very bad shape emotionally, physically, and staring at me with his beady, little eyes as I sat on my Wspiritually. I was also EXTREMELY depressed! bed and chatted with him. I was clearly the talker as I’m only doing time, I know that I was 130 pounds, addicted to drugs and alcohol, angry, he seemed content with just nibbling and listening to T.his frustrated, in denial, separated from my family and the my non-stop chatter. Only when I stopped talking did I.snt free world, an facing life in prison. his nibbling and whiskers come to a complete halt. M.y E.ternity. In 1986, A-block was a very gloomy place to live. Not A favorite thing I liked to do with my little, furry friend I have my Bible! only did it have the usual prison bars, the front of each was to rub peanuts on my fingers. He would lightly My daily readings have taught cell was entirely covered with a heavy, steel, diamond- grab a fingertip with his teeth, tugging and pulling me that it holds: pattern screen. With no window and lack of paint, it with all his might hoping to take the giant morsel to his B.asic certainly had that dungeon feel to it. secret hiding place. Once he realized my finger wasn’t I.nstructions B.efore One day, this little furry-faced mouse wandered into going anywhere, he would sit on his hind legs and grip L.eaving my cell looking for trouble or an easy snack. This was my finger with his tiny claws while licking the delicious E.arth. my happiest moment on A-block! I’d gladly give the salt and peanut oil from my fingers. So, I spend my time getting to know the Lord Jesus. Trying little guy anything he wanted. I gave him a piece of I thoroughly enjoyed his company! For 3-4 weeks he hard to come to terms with my cracker and he took off in a furry flash! Minutes later was my little buddy. It may sound strange to most faults and recognize more of my he returned. After several times of my new friend people, but that little creature, one God put on this shortcomings, so that this span of my life won’t be a complete scampering off with his catch, leaving me with no one earth, distracted me long enough to get through the waste of time. to chat with, I decided to give him smaller pieces in the darkest, loneliest, most unstable time in my life! hopes that he would stay and eat, instead of leaving to Alden J. Harden store it. It worked. North Carolina Death Row The next day, he was eating small pieces of food from Doug A. Lovell Raleigh, NC Utah Death Row my fingers. Soon after, he’d sit on my palm while eating Draper, UT his yummy treats. He would sit back on his hind legs,

IN THIS ISSUE: u Editorial: How Does Compassion Help Death Row Prisoners? Dark Noise u Letters to the Editor Blossoming nocturnal sounds, Earthly natives fighting the power, u What is Being a Buddhist Anyway? Gloomy verbs, pleasant nouns, Organizing humanity by the hour, u Victims’ Voice Conscience in collective vows, To love, hate will devour, u The Meaning Wise souls in the know now, Cultivating support, our family flowers, u Poor Black Kid How else will our voices crowd, Poets all over raining amazing showers! u Backward, Forward u One Page At A Time Speaking fearlessly out loud… u Sincere Heart On relevant, pertinent issues, Christopher Henriquez u Living vs. Existing Of unworthy presidential pistols, California Death Row u And More... On erasing nuclear codes and missiles, San Quentin, CA Of life to our planet’s rich crystals, (submitted by Anthony Cain) www.compassionondeathrow.net Letters to the Editor EDITORIAL: Letters to the Editor are welcomed How Does Compassion Help from all prisoners (this includes non-death row prisoners) and the outside community. Death Row Prisoners? In submitting letters, we ask that compassionate and introspective guidelines apply to your ver the nearly four years I’ve been Compassion’s editor, I’ve had to answer this communications. question many times in a variety of forms, contexts, tones…and I’ve read dozens Limit size to 400 words or less. O Letters may be edited for clarity of letters from readers/contributors and had conversations amid which elements to this and space considerations. question’s answer arose. Having compiled and distilled all these experiences, I want to SEND ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO: share ten ways Compassion helps death row prisoners: COMPASSION OFFICE 140 W. South Boundary Street 1. Compassion is a way for us to help others, 6. Many people in prison genuinely wish to Perrysburg, OH 43551 to get beyond our self-absorption. We share change for the better, but don’t know how, COMPASSION OUTSIDE COORDINATOR our wisdom and insights; donate artwork to or feel helpless to overcome prison’s specific [email protected] sell to provide scholarships. For many, it’s part obstacles to change. Compassion offers TEL: 419-874-1333 guidance and wisdom – a pathway toward FAX: 419-874-3441 of showing remorse or repentance. change, along with practical steps prisoners WEBSITE ADDRESS: 2. Every time Compassion publishes a can take. www.compassionondeathrow.net submission, it assures the prisoner-writer 7. Compassion cultivates and nurtures writing PUBLISHER he/ matters, their voice is heard, skills, which improves critical-thinking Compassion what they think and feel is important. processes and decision-making to bring EDITOR It reinforces their humanity. George Wilkerson order to one’s life. mission statement ASSISTANT EDITORS 3. Compassion’s 8. Compassion promotes repentance, Anthony Cain, (“to help prisoners’ live connected and Konstantinos Fotopoulos, one of its most prevalent themes, and and Melvin Speight fruitful lives”) offers a sense of direction demonstrates the miracle of forgiveness CONTRIBUTING WRITERS and purpose, which counteracts prison’s with its Victims Voice section. Antonio Doyle, Ian Z Gilmer, disorienting effect that makes many feel lost. Alden J. Harden, 9. Compassion inspires us, spurs us on to Christopher Henriquez, 4. Living under a death sentence is a unique, better lives, and challenges us to examine William Morgan Herring, alienating experience that only other death ourselves in utter honesty. Doug A. Lovell, Kevin Marinelli, Wesley I. Purkey and John Robinson row prisoners can fully relate to. Compassion 10. Compassion is a beacon of HOPE that not PLEASE NOTE: Any opinions provides a clearing where we can meet, only is change possible, but that society expressed in this publication are to say to each other, “You are not alone.” those of the individuals writing them supports us even as we support each other. and not of Compassion or other staff members. Anything death row 5. Each issue of Compassion published prisoners write may jeopardize their George Wilkerson future appeals. This may limit the provides a sense of accomplishment to its Editor scope of their expressions. contributors, which helps negate the looming North Carolina Death Row All stories are subject to editing for Raleigh, NC grammar, sentence structure, and clarity. sense of worthlessness inherent in prison. 2 Letters to the Editor: The Oblates of Saint Benedict General Oblation Information for Prisoners here is a special group of Oblates that belong to St. Benedict’s thing as all time is God’s and God doesn’t “waste.” Everything is TAbbey. These are the men and women who are incarcerated of value, and this, my dear brothers and sisters, means YOU. You across the United States. While serving their sentences in the are of value, more infinite than you can comprehend. For more penitentiary, they choose to live a monastic lifestyle, following the information, or to get started on your novitiate, write for the initial Rule of St. Benedict (RSB) and praying the Divine Office daily, as their information and application packet. individual schedules allow. Hebrews 12:5-6 reads: “And you have Through this program and its rewards of community and prayer forgotten the consolation, which speaketh to you, as unto children, you can turn your prison sentence, which most deem as “negative”, saying; ‘My son, neglect not the discipline of the Lord; neither be thou into a life-changing “positive” that will remain with you for the rest wearied whilst thou art rebuked by him. For whom the Lord loveth, of your days. The bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood formed by He chastiseth, and He scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.’” this program, in spite of your prison term, could turn out to be the Being in the penitentiary can be a harrowing and traumatic best thing to happen to you. Remember, God has each one of us experience: first for the prisoner; second for their family and loved where He wants us; not, perhaps where we would like to be. Are ones. A Benedictine Oblation while you are incarcerated and you being called to become an Oblate of St. Benedict? continuing after you are released (if possible) may change your life Write to: Director of Prison Oblates for the better…Saint Benedict teaches in his Holy Rule that as Oblates, Saint Benedict’s Abbey we practice obedience under these difficult, unfavorable, or even 1020 North Second Street unjust conditions. We embrace the suffering in our heart, turning Atchison, Kansas 66002 what could be a detriment to our character into a benefit. This is one of the many things becoming an Oblate has in store for you. You embrace your life situation, and by applying the Rule begin to Charles Henry Diller change from the , truly making the most of your prison Assistant Editor of Outside Communication Dallas State Correctional Institution experience. This may sound nuts but keep reading further. It doesn’t Dallas, PA have to be only “dead time” or a waste altogether. There is no such

I Just Called, You Came n ignorant one’s truth lies like a rug, rolling’ round evil stares, sit in chains, have yo’ self a ball. Hopefully you like yo’ cell, know Awannabe thugs. Headed for a dead end, livin’ do or die, you like it rough, only time they let you out, if you’re wearing cuffs. victims of dark attitudes, open up your eyes. Missed your chance at At life’s end you’ll meet the one, thinking you might blame who happiness. Taught by the wrong people, easier for a camel to dive whispers to you one last time, “I just called, you came!” through a needle. Had yo’ self the perfect wife, dedicated spirit, you so caught up in yo’self, couldn’t even hear it. Knew it all at 3 feet tall, Glen Cornwell San Quentin State Prison lived to be 6’4”, used to think protection stinks, now you are no more. San Quentin, CA Missed the class movin’ fast, think you know it all, laughing as you 3 What is Being a Buddhist Anyway? f Buddhism is a religion then it certainly is an odd leading to enlightenment: Ehi Passikop, “Come See!” I constantly cultivate as I practice the dharma 24 – 7. one under the general definition of what a religion In other words, he told them to question the teachings A core value of Buddhism that speaks volumes in my Iis. Buddhists do not believe that a person has a if they felt an affinity to such. To explode them and test humble opinion is that, “it is better to suffer oneself, soul that can be condemned to the inferno of hell for them in every way possible, and if no affinity was found rather than to cause another person to suffer.” unpardonable sins; in fact, they do not believe in sins then they were free to leave. No pressure applied in As with any other religion Buddhism is about creating at all under the general definition of such. There is any way; no one said that either you believe in these a better person as time goes on despite the inherent no story of creation, no views of the end of the world teachings or you are doomed to the burning inferno human shortcomings. Doing so mandates governing and particularly no deity to worship and obey. Despite of hells fire. In other words, “no harm, no foul”, if a person’s thinking, because a person cannot achieve Buddhism not having these primary religious dogmas, Buddhism works for you then fantastic and if not, anything that is not first dealt with in their own mind. it is still listed as one of the five major religions of the then that is fine as well. Nothing outside a person can affect them near as world today, along with Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, A Buddhists way of seeing the world tentatively: much as what goes on in their own minds. So how and Judaism. In contrast with these other well- learning to accept things and others as they are, a person thinks is as important as what they think recognized religions, Buddhism does not have a central instead of always being in a state of despair wanting about. Here practicing kindness, love, compassion belief system of “my way or the highway,” so to speak, circumstances to be different than what they are, as and being non-judgmental is front and center to such because nothing in Buddhism is taken on blind faith. well as other people to be different than who they thinking. Love is the antidote for hatred; as goodwill is The Buddha said to take nothing at face value, and to are. Coming to terms with the unadulterated fact that for anger. Loving thoughts produce one result, whereas question everything. So if Buddhism does not have a nothing remains the same for long and being malleable thoughts of hate and revenge produce the opposite. central belief system, and no deity being worshiped is key to Buddhist practices. Central to Buddhism as “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he,” the Buddha and obeyed, then what is it? Is it a Religion or not? well is showing gratitude in all given circumstances, said. For me whether Buddhism is a religion or not is No simple answer exists to this question, nor does it not only on pristine mountain tops, but more so when irrelevant because what is relevant to me is digging and matter if Buddhism is defined as a religion or not to deep in the valleys of despair. Such gratitude shown excavating the debris and stagnant counter productive Buddhists, and here is why: Like any other religion deep in the valleys of despair recognizes humility which thinking, and instead achieving that ever so precious Buddhism seeks to answer the same basic questions is the true measuring rod of any person. When under treasure of pukka (genuine) thinking that practicing the such as, “Who am I” and “Why am I here”, and such adversity it is important not to ask oneself “Why dharma is all about. “What is the meaning of life” as well as “How can I me?,” but instead to say, “Why not me?” Each person best achieve happiness in my life?” This for the in this world suffers, some so much more than others, Buddhist is achieved through practicing the dharma whereas it is essential that each of us is absolutely Wesley I. Purkey (teachings of Buddhism) in everyday life. The Buddha cognizant that everyone we meet in this world is facing Federal Death Row told those who questioned whether practicing these struggles we know nothing about. These are tenets of Terra Haute, IN teachings would ultimately answer these questions Buddhism that are near and dear to my heart and that

I Lost My Brother In 1989, Maria’s brother Jerry Hines, a Virginia State Trooper, was making a routine vehicle stop. He was shot to death by Dennis Eaton. Eaton was charged with the murders of four individuals, found guilty and was sentenced to death. Despite her grave personal loss, Maria started a crusade on December 1996 against the death penalty. After watching the movie “Dead Man Walking,” she was inspired to take action. “The person who had changed my life so profoundly, I did not even know,” Maria said. “When I found out that (Eaton) was sentenced to death, I searched my soul for other answers.” As part of the healing process, Maria began writing letters to the killer of her brother. She began corresponding with him regularly, and arranged visits to see him at the Virginia correctional facility where he was being housed. On June 18, 1998, Eaton was executed. Hines held a prayer vigil outside Mecklenburg Prison where Eaton was held and executed. She attended the memorial service of Eaton, which was held the following day. Maria Hines For more information visit www.journeyofhope.org 4 Original Art Work for Scholarships Poor Black Kid DONATED BY DEATH ROW PRISONERS Born while ya’ Mom’s locked up on a Bid Ya’ is some CAT that got with Mom while She was chasing cash, Real fast He Hit it, quit it in a flash! To him you ain’t even an Afterthought Mom can’t even Remember Clown’s name She Hustlin’ So fly with her game So, it’s up to Nana and Auntie to see You are raised up, potty-trained & taught to wash yourself Take care of your health and hygiene You ain’t but so big built like a twig Cause ain’t a lot to eat some nights Biscuits and water with a tablespoon of sugar Or else so hungry in bed Ya’ eat ya’ snot and a few boogers The darkness keeps ya’ hid You just a POOR BLACK KID Charity from da’ church, hand-me-down clothes Choppin cotton, pickin tomatoes & sweet potatoes By Kevin Marinelli 12” x 9” / Colored Pencil and Ink To help earn a few dollars and cents Untitled Pennsylvania Death Row $40.00 includes shipping and handling All y’all pool ya’ money, Nana’s, Auntie’s To purchase make your check to Compassion You go to shop at IGA or Piggly Wiggly Waynesburg, PA and send to the address on page 2. Can’t get much with the sharecropping wages they pay COMPASSION READERS: To date $51,988.72 has been awarded in college Maybe enough food to last a day or two Then back to da’ fields scholarships to family members for murder victims. Make a purchase of their artwork. To view available Then Momma get out, comes to get you from selections, view Art for Scholarship in the past issues at www.compassionondeathrow.net. Da’South, up North in the Big City Call 419-874-1333 and ask for Compassion office to verify availability. Initially you’re treated pretty crappy Called “Country”, “Bama”, Bumpkin and “Hick” Til city boy’s asses you start to kick But ya Still Stuck in a different kind of id The Meaning Cause you know ya’ still a POOR BLACK KID he meaning of life… I think that this is a things I can neither name or describe outside the Don’t really like the Big City, it’s Dirty, Noisy and Not too pretty only place to find a piece of peace is subject which people as a majority tend confines of my mind, in order to find something The Big City Park, but you’ll get ya’ ass Killed in’em to overthink. As happens so often, we T more within, behind, it all: universal After dark, unless you bad like dem that’s trying overcomplicate the simplest things, this being Truths that need not be deciphered by the world’s To Rob or Hurt you! no exception. foremost cryptologists before everyone can So you do a few, crack they lid, split they wig Life is seemingly so big, so vast, that people understand them. Pop they Top! Caught by da’Cops – Just Another believe that the meaning or explanation should I believe that the meaning of life is actually be sufficiently intricate to equal the size; like POOR BLACK KID something quite simple…I think the one true Caught up in an age-old exploitative system some theoretical equation in quantum physics reason we’re all on this rock is to pack our genetic That stole us from our Natural claiming to prove and explain the existence of material into a tight little bundle and send it safely And now feed off our misery to keep worm-holes in our universe…Yet, more times than into the next generation. We’re no different than Their system going on not by an answer of stratospherical any other creature alive today. We’re here to Now before the Judge you must decide proportions, we tend to overlook the simplest, Go to trial or take the plea procreate, to make sure our species continues to most obvious answers, which are sometimes also An get an easy Slide live on…I believe that’s everything. the most plausible…and absolutely correct ones. They already know which way you’ll carry da Bid POOR BLACK KID You don’t have to be some genius philosopher or (continued on page 6) astrophysicist in order to ponder the meaning of Ian Z Gilmer all these moving atoms. I sit behind prison walls Colorado Death Row William Morgan Herring Sterling, CO North Carolina Death Row and progress in my search for the truth daily… Raleigh, NC Sifting through thought, emotion, impulse, and 5 One Page At A Time Backward, have the bad habit of skipping to the last new problem, change, or opportunity each day will pages of a book, while I’m still in the middle bring. God in His loving wisdom has often had to Forward I of it. To see how it ends. This habit annoyed remind me to relax, slow down and find His love my family and friends. Often my impatience and joy in today, which is really all we have. The Mirror showed me wouldn’t confine itself to the books I read, Recently, when I found myself returning to that My reflection. Traces of a tear but also included what they were reading, bad habit of rushing ahead and living in the future as well. Finally one day, my daughter told me, I wouldn’t allow to be. The pain again, I found His love coming from the lips of a “Dad please just read the book one page at special soul who gently told me I needed to “live Of memory that had long faded a time like everyone else!” one day at a time.” When I heard those words Away At times, I haven’t limited this bad habit to just I smiled, turned the book of my life back to the Is also what the mirror showed books, either. I have also tried to skip ahead in my present, and was simply thankful for today. own life and figure out what to do months, even Me that day. Nothing There is no skipping ahead in Life’s book. Each of years in advance, instead of embracing each day us has to live it one page at a time. Each of us has In this mirror except the pain as God intended. I knew the book of my life had to have faith in God to help us write it line by line Of my past. Would there be many pages left to go. Still, that didn’t stop me and moment by moment. Each of us has to trust 7 years more with the crack from trying to write the ending halfway through. that He will bring our story to its perfect end. Time and again, I would foolishly jump ahead and Of glass? As the thought crossed try to solve every conceivable problem before it John Robinson My mind, I left happened so I could reach that happily-ever-after Kansas Death Row The mirror intact; backed away ending. Life, however, doesn’t work like that. God El Dorado, KS loves to surprise us and you never know what Slowly, reluctantly Turned my back. A shock As to what I now see: If that Mirror was the pain of past Why is it now in front of me?

Antonio Doyle Nevada Death Row Indian Springs, NV

Resources www.Prisonfoundation.org ©2018 John Robinson This website offers to send law (continued from page 5) books, rules, regulations, etc. – Poor Black Kid by William Morgan Herring free of charge, excepting postage which must be paid for by the First couple bids you do are Light and Easy Next meal via something or someone to Rob or Steal person requesting the information. Setting you up to feel like lock-up jail Look what you done did All material is in loose-leaf form Ain’t nothing and the system real cheesy Now they getting Rid a ya: But that’s just the desensitization they want you to feel Life Without Parole (Xeroxed), not bound in a book. Till you actually Or a Death Row Bid Get a Kill while you out there chasing ya For The POOR BLACK KID 6 7 Suggestions and Guidelines 1. Write about an experience that impacted you. 4. There’s no need to use big words when a simpler 2. It doesn’t have to be religious. Here are some themes: one suffices: leave your ego at the door with your anger, apathy, beauty, betrayal, boredom, change, case: this isn’t the place for either one. complacency, courage, fear, friendship, growing older, 5. Look for ways to unify; help; and solve problems. jealousy, pride, purpose, vices, and wisdom. 6. Be authentic. Be yourself. No one’s perfect. 3. Use sensory details – the smell, who said what, its 7. Try to limit it to 400 words or less, and if possible color, how cold it felt. Sensory details connect your enclose a photo of yourself. experience to your readers. As there are numerous submissions it may take up to eight months for selected articles to be published. Thank you to our donors who are making this publication possible. SILVER DONORS ($1000 OR MORE): Walter Foster Sisters of Mercy of Americas, Rev. Raymond Ensman St. Paul’s, Norwalk, OH Fremont, OH St. Rose Parish, Perrysburg, OH Rev. Arturo Perez-Rodriguez Father Doug Hennessey Deacon Larry & Sue Lottier Ron Hitzler Carl Kammire Rev. Charles Ritter St. Katharine Drexel, Frederick, MD Sisters. of Mercy, Rev. Nicolas Weibl Margaret Keller St. Bernardine Home Marian & Brad Wallace In Memory of Deacon Ken Cappelletty Sisters of St. Francis, Tiffin, OH Joseph Griffin Kolbe House, Chicago, IL Kathleen & Paul Helbling BRONZE DONORS ($500 OR MORE): Carl Hyde Aux. Bishop David Talley Arlynn Lyle Leon & Nanacy Bistak Saint Rita Church, Rockford, IL Rev. Nelson Belizario Rev. Edward Schleter Rosemary Ymzon Bonnie & Jim Keller Ken & Elizabeth Green, Kansas City, MO St. Thomas Aquinas, Toledo, OH Carol Smelley Sisters of Charity Ann Nichols, Sister Pat Schnapp Arizonans to Abolish DP St. Mark Catholic Church, Augres, MI Good Shepherd Church, Toledo, OH Rev. James Peiffer Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet St. Rose School, Knights of Peter Claver, New Orleans, LA Eugene Schmitt Anna Mae Whaley Perrysburg, OH Cathy Cappelletty Paul & Carol Kraus St. Joseph Church, Sylvania, OH Constance Laessig Sisters of the Most Precious Blood. St. Jerome Church, Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, OH Tom Perzynski Dayton, OH Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL North Weymouth, MA In Memory of: Anita Boylan Priest – Diocese of Youngstown Diocese of San Diego, CA Charles Henry Diller Sister Mary Immaculee Heinl Richard & Shelly Kotz Don & Connie Reinhard Rev. Neil Kookoothe, St. Charence Church Church of the Sacred Heart, Norbert Wethington Louise & Michael Sarra Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena Sauk Rapids, MN Rev. Tony Gallagher In Memory of Bob McCloud Chicago, IL St. Patrick Church, St. Bartholomew Church, Ursuline Convent of the Father Gary Walters PATRONS ($100 OR MORE): Grand Rapids, OH Colombus, IN Sacred Heart Friends Meeting of Raleigh Martha Baldoni St. Mary’s Church, Defiance, OH Rev. James Bacik In Memory of Grace & Larry Russell Loaves & Fishes Jail Visitation An Anonymous Friend James Steinle Cong. Of The Humility of Mary, Catholic Charities, Rev Gerald Chmiel Catholic Diocese Jefferson City, MO St. Pius X Parish, Toledo,OH Davenport, IA Youngstown, OH Also, Thank You to Margy Paoletti Kristen Keller Corpus Christi Parish, Toledo, OH Our Lady of Hope, Attica, OH Our Subscribers and Martha May Fr. Richard Notter Sister Delores Schuh, CHM St. Caspar, Wauseon, OH Other Donors. Compassion is sent free to all 3,000 death-row prisoners. NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL Your donation in any amount will help us to continue this outreach. COMPASSION DONATION | PARTICIPATION FORM A portion of your donation will be given Enclosed is $ for the donation/subscription checked on the left. in college scholarships to family members of murdered victims. q Please keep my gift anonymous. q Benefactor – $10,000 q Lead Donor – $5,000 q Gold Donor – $2,500 Name q Silver Donor – $1,000 q Bronze Donor – $500 Organization q Patron – $100.00 To $499.00 q Subscriber – $50.00 Address q Prisoners Not On Death Row – $25.00 q Other City State Zip Please send tax deductible contribution to: St. Rose Peace & Justice / Compassion 140 W. South Boundary St., Perrysburg, OH 43551 Day Phone Evening Phone NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE Sincere Heart St. Rose Parish PAID 215 E. Front Street TOLEDO OH (Dedicated to my Supporters) Perrysburg, Ohio 43551 PERMIT NO. 179

Printing and Postage Paid for by: Compassion I can share my problems with you at any Given time- You give me Encouragement and help ease My troubled mind…

You stand with me in the Fight against My Enemies- I can depend on the Love and you’ve Given me…

You always make me feel special and Supreme- Living v. Existing You’re the living real Life saw a great sermon/talk last week by a very conditions. Its roots run deep into the murky, Answer to knowledgeable Rabbi on the difference slimy swamp bottom; but its head, its flower My dreams… I between Living/Life and existing/existence. raises its head above the water to beautify a Basically it comes down to quality of life versus very gloomy environment. Now, that’s living! You’re the Reason why I stay quantity. In prison there is a lot of “existing.” To We may be stuck in this murky prison setting, strong and never flourish in this environment is difficult, to say but it should be used to raise our heads up to Completely fall apart- the least. There are several ways to do that, but show the world (immediate or expanded) that Because I know you really the two main ones are to conform or assimilate. no matter where you are, no matter how dark love me with every Beat Most think they’re the same thing, but there is a the depths, there is beauty in the human soul if Of a sincere Heart… subtle distinction: Conformity is being molded by you only add light. The Greeks said that the Lotus the environment, while assimilation absorbs and created “dreamy forgetfulness.” Maybe that’s Hype Tone Poetry 2005 elevates the environment – not just to adapt, but because when we see the beauty of the flower “adapt and overcome,” which is my motto. we forget its undignified origins. There’s a life in I tell guys that to sit around eating commissary us all dying to blossom – just add THE LIGHT’ Anthony “Wrinkles” Cain and watching TV is something a dog can do; that’s California Death Row San Quentin CA not living that’s existing. There’s a lesson to be Kevin Marinelli learned from nature: the water lily (also known Pennsylvania Death Row Waynesburg, PA as the “lotus”) only grows in the swampy, harsh