My Time in Prisons
Locked down!
Imprisoned by the pandemic…
I think of all the prisons
I have visited.
Fort Christian in
Charlotte Amalie,
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.
300-year-old Danish fort,
later, St. Thomas Prison.
Then the dungeon
became a museum.
We toured the dungeon
at Fort Christian.
I remember the coolness
and the rough, thick walls
covered with graffiti…
artwork and obscenities,
messages from inmates
killing time.
Alcatraz, San Francisco Bay.
Once a lightouse, military fort,
and military prison…
then a federal prison.
Abandoned…
then occupied by protesting
Native Americans…
Now a museum.
We visited the cell block,
rusting human cages
and peeling paint…
We thought about the movie,
true story of an inmate,
“Birdman of Alcatraz”
who shared his food with birds.
This was the place
where Al Capone,
famous American gangster,
served time for tax evasion.
They never proved
his other crimes.
We toured a modern day
model prison in California…
remarkably like a college campus!
No graffiti here!
Locked down!
Imprisoned by the pandemic
and writing graffiti…
photos and poems
posted on my blog.
Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
Gulf Coast Poet 
Excellent post. Prison is always painful. But one thing I came to know from your poem today, Nothing is permanent. Everything gets changed.
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Thanks, Murali. Good as a daily reminder! Cheryl
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True that is. We are indeed locked in a cage like the prison.
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Thank you, Kritika for your comment. The difference between us in our lockdown and most prison inmates is that we got in our prison without committing a crime!
I hope you are safe and well. Cheryl
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That is so true. I am doing well kindly 😊🌷. Thank you 🌻 Have a bashful day.
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Cheryl, excellent metaphor comparing the Covid19 lockdown to being imprisoned. An exceptional penning! Stay safe and well.
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Thank you, Lance, for your kind comments. I hope all is well with you. Cheryl
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great content. enjoyed reading. keep going. Thanks for the follow
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I am happy you enjoyed the poem, Ruchita. I look forward to reading more of your work. Take care.
Cheryl
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You have beautifully compared covid lockdown with prison. Hope all of this ends soon. Take care 🙂🙂
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Thank you, Sruti for your generous comments. I am glad you like the poem. I agree that the sooner coronavirus ends, the better! Be safe and happy! Cheryl
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This is amazing. Indeed, we’re all prisoned now, and are exploring our inner beauties. I loved the metaphor. ❤
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Anisha, I am very pleased that you like the poem. Thank you for reading and commenting. I added this blog to my website to “explore my inner beauties,” and it has been a great antidote to the isolation! I enjoy reading the thoughts of others and knowing that we are all in this together!
Be safe and happy! 🙂 Cheryl
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I got released from prison when corona was at it’s worst in Australia. It strangely made the transition less overwhelming. Bet you would have seen some interesting stuff in the jails. Good luck with it all.
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Christo, I hope you make a successful transition to your new life. Thank you for reading and commenting. All the best! Cheryl
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Working in a prison, I feel this!
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I am glad you can relate 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to read and comment! All the best! Cheryl
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