Incarceration Nation
Incarceration nation,
where did you put
your young men?
You put them in a plea bargain;
you put them in a felony record;
you put them out of your mind.
Incarceration nation,
your heart is in a prison cell;
your future is in a prison cell;
your conscience is in a prison cell.
Incarceration nation,
where did you put your future?
Where did you put your hope?
Where did you put your justice?
Where did you put your freedom?
Incarceration nation,
where did you put
your young men?
You put them into poverty;
you put them into despair;
you put them into chains.
Incarceration nation,
you took your children;
you took your hope;
you put them in a prison cell;
you put them in a felony record;
you put them out of your mind.
Incarceration nation,
you put yourself
into a prison cell
into fear; into hate;
into racism;
into money’s death spasm;
Incarceration nation,
where did you put
your young men?
They are the universe
aware of itself;
they are consciousness
trapped in money’s death spasm.
Incarceration nation,
why have you
imprisoned yourself?
David Breeden earned an MFA degree from The Iowa Writers' Workshop, a PhD from the Center for Writers at the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School. He has published several books of poetry, translations, and essays. His blog and sermons can be found at www.FirstUnitarian.org
- The Crooked Timber of Ourselves - May 1, 2020
- Justice, Elections, and Whiteness - November 6, 2014
- Conscience and Choosing the Hill to Die On - October 30, 2014
