Prisoner number - VS1248 Ronson.

Vocational Training

These are the things that I've learnt while inside; How to make number plates; where best to hide spare cigarettes; basic wiring; not to make bets with guys with thick necks; furniture craft; that there's no point desiring the things you can't have or wasting time dreaming; motor mechanics; industrial cleaning; how to make chairs; plastering; plumbing; light vehicle repairs; mind numbing; keeping your head down; protecting your stash; trading in contraband; laundering cash; how to make models from matchsticks and glue; carpentry, welding and bricklaying too; people skills; parent-craft; how not to make bail; home economics; how to read braille.

These are my life skills; I list them with pride; these are the things that I've learnt while inside.

Some poems inspired by nature

The Swollows

The swallows in the yard
Dip and soar, free as the birds that they are.
Then they leave - because they can.
But I cannot leave - no way.
But the swallows can.
Bastards.

---- ---- ---- ---- ----

The Fox

The other night,
Andy Roberts swore he saw a fox
But I'm not sure

'Cause Andy lies.
Obtaining by deception was his crime,
And he's taken a few chickens in his time.

---- ---- ---- ---- ----

Nightingale

Unseen sentinel,
In the dead of the night you serenade our loneliness.
Sometimes I wish I could sing with your purity.
Sometimes I wish I had an air rifle -
Then I could shoot you and get some sleep.

---- ---- ---- ---- ----

This is a piece I wrote about a visit we had from Benjamin Zephaniah and the unpleasantness that followed it. I find it very hard to talk about this incident except through verse.

Benjamin Zephan–liar

He came to teach us and tried to reach us. But then things went sour like sour peaches or them things on a pizza...capers.

He looked at my papers and said I was good - I had potential. I was like “cool.” And I loved the man who had come to school us and not tried to rule us.

But then he abused me, because he accused me of going in his bag and taking his stuff. How dare you man!? Enough is enough Zephaniah, so here comes my fire;

You said we should aspire to inspire but then accused me of being a liar and nicking a pen from your bag.

All because I had a prior conviction for theft but that should have been left in the past, back there, back then.

We all have the right to start over again with a clean sheet. Like we get in here each Tuesday - and when they are used they ain't thrown away. They ain't thrown down like you threw me. They get washed clean. They get set free...sort of.

Do you even believe in the freedom of men? I don't know, ‘cause you freed my soul man, but then you sent it down again.

So, I'll tell you what, yeah, I did rob your pen and I'm glad
‘cause, truth to tell it, I 'm gonna sell it, and with the money I
make I'll buy me a pellet gun.

Or maybe some smokes and some gin, yeah. So you see I win. And I'll grin as I throw your book in my bin. So suck on that Zephaniah, brackets, Benjamin!

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