TSM 227 — Angel without wings


[Inmates playing chess from prison cells, Attica Correctional Facility, Attica, New York],
March 1972, Photography by Cornell Capa

Born in chaos,
bathed in misery;
ribs stoved in
until my red fist
was an icy stone.

Iron contains
the beast; clanks
as grunts of ghosts
echo in canyons
of justice.

It took a queen
to thaw and open
my life; gift from a
plastic angel
without wings.

Carrie is the host of The Sunday Muse.

30 Comments Add yours

  1. mizuv's avatar Paula Light says:

    Good one!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Paula.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

    Great take Li.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Sadje.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

        My pleasure Li

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Sunita Prasad's avatar Sunita Prasad says:

    A fine poem!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Sunita, thank you.

      Like

  4. Carol anne's avatar Carol anne says:

    wonderful poem Li! :-)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Carol Anne :)

      Like

  5. Carrie V. H.'s avatar Carrie V. H. says:

    A poem full of great emotion, and I felt it. Love this Lisa!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you very much, Carrie.

      Like

  6. memadtwo's avatar memadtwo says:

    That’s a beautiful thought, a light in the dark. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Kerfe.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar Badfinger (Max) says:

    Born in chaos,…bathed in misery…that is oh so true to many of them.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Max, don’t I know it. The stories of so many of the juveniles I worked with still haunt me. Thank you for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar Badfinger (Max) says:

        I know you would know much more than me. I hired a girl here who was 17 for little stuff…she was born in a prison. I’m hoping she does ok.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

          ::fingers crossed:: be kind to her. Kindness (and patience) can work miracles.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar Badfinger (Max) says:

            She is gone now…she left on good terms so it was good.

            Liked by 1 person

            1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

              Oh, I must have misread that you just hired her. Ooops. Glad she left on good terms in any case.

              Liked by 1 person

              1. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar Badfinger (Max) says:

                The way I worded it I don’t blame you…yea I hope she does good in life…she did good here.

                Liked by 1 person

  8. Susie Clevenger's avatar Susie Clevenger says:

    Oh I love this. Thank goodness for that plastic angel without wings.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Susie.

      Like

  9. Wow, what a powerful photo. I also like your poem!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Christian.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Gillena Cox's avatar Gillena Cox says:

    Nice one.
    Happy you dropped by to read mine

    Much💛love

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Gillena, much appreciated.

      Like

  11. hdwoonie23's avatar Helen says:

    Lisa, your poem is incredibly evocative .. felt it in my bones.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Helen, thank you. Saving souls comes in many forms.

      Like

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