Tag Archives: PEN America

A Constantly Evolving Lifespan: A Review of “This Life” by Quntos KunQuest

A life sentence in prison is life, that is, there is living to do in prison, even under a life sentence.  Quntos KunQuest, in his novel, This Life, demonstrates that life goes on inside of prison.  Since 1996, KunQuest has … Continue reading

Posted in crime, Education, Growing Up, Justice Chronicles, Life Sentences, race, raising black boys | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Prison Portal

Poets are on a quest to find a word that is worth a thousand pictures.  I don’t know if there’s a poetry gene, but there’s connective tissue joining poets.  Even before I know a writer is a poet – a … Continue reading

Posted in Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass, ezwwaters, Justice Chronicles, Poetry, Reentry, Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Poets Are Revolutionaries: Drop Poetry, Not Bombs!

Poets, at heart, are revolutionaries.  In addition to being incurable romantics, they are idealists.  Even in their poetry, they seek the ideal.  They are always in search of the ideal. I also met Susan Rosenberg through my work with PEN … Continue reading

Posted in Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass, ezwwaters, Justice Chronicles, Lest We Forget, Poetry, Reentry, remorse, Revolution, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Poets, Prison Writing, and Pantoums

Poets feel deeply, oftentimes too deeply. Sometimes they’re overwhelmed by their feelings. Poets are incurable Romantics. They love Love. They’re always on a quest to find Love. Poets are human, deeply human, as human as can be, with all the … Continue reading

Posted in Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass, ezwwaters, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments