by Lois Rayburn

Created on: May 15, 2010   Last Updated: May 16, 2010

Prison Man,   

Holding on to hope and staying strong.   Life within the walls, it ain't easy.

Keeping your sanity, keeping your spirit free, gotta walk with God in here, let His Holy Spirit lead me.

Never thought I'd last when they shackled me, put me on that bus, brought me to this place.

Iron gates, steel doors, locked down in a cage. 

Stripped me and my identity, gave me a number, put me in their clothes, told me where to walk, t

told me when and how to talk, show up for count, or end up in the dark.  

Sleeping on a bunk made of steel mattress so thin sometimes you'd swear there's nothing there,

cold at night, hot in the day living with an unknown man, sharing a cave.  

These men, they are different than me.

Lived a life of crime, came from broken homes, did drugs, never finished school.  

 Never thought I'd end up here, not here! to pay for my crime,

defending my family on the outside was my crime.  

My family is there, supportive of me try their best to help me in this place

write letters, send books, come visit regularly. They visit and then have to leave...

 I see the pain in their eyes as they try to hold on to me

Then I'm walked back to my cell, trying to stay strong, "come on now, don't let anyone see me cry!"  

How much longer can I endure before I am one of "them" I'm not really sure.

Some try and take your manhood and say, "settle in, there's a better way to stay strong."

"This is a long road, you'll need some company, some support in these long days and nights. 

 Be one of us, we'll take care of you."  

My mind, my spirit, my body scream, my God!

Hold on to me, help me stay strong! 

You men, there is a better way to stay strong!

To endure the nights, the long days ahead,

Remember why you're here, PLAN FOR FREEDOM INSTEAD!  

This time will pass, one day I'll be free, I'll have paid my debt for my crime. 

 I'll get out and be with them again.

 A different man, yes, yet still the same...

Having learned I must think before I act.  

The shackles will be gone, no restrictions on my life.

I'll be free to live, no more guards and prison walls surrounding me.  

I'll take my place back with my family having learned the hard, hard way

that freedom has a price and I had to pay for my actions in the past. 

That's what led me here today.  

So teach those you love to walk the right path and if they choose not to follow, DON'T REACT!

Don't take things into your own hands, your defense is no good.

You've stopped that bad behavior only for a time. It's really up to them, not me, the choices they make.  

 I tried to save them, yet now I'm their disgrace.

Oh yes, they still love me, they know where I come from.

But they lost their father when I tried to save his son.

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