Prison Gates

The prisoner isnot the one who has committed a crime, but rather the one who clings to hiscrime and lives it over and over. “
-Henry Miller

Strippedof all dignity as you hand over your shoes, jewellery and hair tie, any mobilephones, wallets, and contents in your pockets are emptied into a plastic tub infront of your eyes.  You are ordered by apolice officer to stand with your feet apart, and arms out as they search yourphysical body and hair for any objects you may have before you are escorted toa small square box. The officer opens the door with an exaggerated key, andinstructs you to enter.

Youlook at the officer with a look of hopelessness coupled with despair and youtake your first step in the door way followed by your 2^nd, as youhear the loud and final slam of the door close behind you, and the key as itlocks you behind bars.

Asreality hits you that you that there is no way out, you are alone with onlyyour thoughts as you find yourself alone in a cell.

Eventuallyyou succumb to the surroundings your in, as you realise that there is nothingyou can do to change things, you look at the walls that have been inscribed bypeople who were there before you, as you read their names, dates, and whateverother comment he or she has managed to somehow embed into the paint.

Yourin a tank with a steel toilet, no toilet paper, you have 3 cushions to lie on,as you pace up and down barefoot.  

Surroundedby florescent lights, unfamiliar buzzing noises and the wales from the otherinmates down the halls who are punching, kicking and calling out to the policeyour heart begins to race as the reality begins to sink in.

Finallyyou sit down, staring at the floor, with your head in your hands, wondering howthe f@ck you let life get so out of control to end up here in the first place. Overwhelmedby emotions of desperation, and wanting to get out, you soon realise that youand you alone are stuck there, there is no way out. 

Thisis where the beginning of life in jail will begin. This is where the beginningof an entire new society will reveal itself to you. This is where the gates ofhell have opened and swallowed you whole.

Yourno longer treated like a human, your merely an animal on the food chain oflife, fighting like a rabid dog to gain your place in the new society that youhave very little choice but to conform to.

Youwill do what you are told when you are told to do it, you will get out of bedand go to bed when you are told, your room is a cell, and you will get used tothat, you will not have the freedom to walk around when you want or choose toyou will follow the strict instructions of the prison guard.

Youdo not have a choice in your meals, you will eat what you are given, you willnot be permitted to freely make yourself tea, coffee, or cordial as you oncecould from your own fridge at home, as this luxury is now gone.

Youwill shower when you are told, and not before, you will also no longer haveprivacy to shower alone, as you conform to showering with others.

Youwill not speak in a tone that is rude, or disrespectful to the officers in thejail, as you will find yourself being made an example of to the rest of theinmates as the officers choose to use you in whatever form of humiliation andpunishment they deem as fit for your disrespectful nature.

Youwill not make eye contact with anybody as you walk lead by the prison officerto your destination.  You will keep youreyes on the ground, and answer yes mam, no sir, when addressed.

Youwill not know what the f@ck hit you.

ThisI promise as you enter the system of what we call justice.

Atnight you will hear the cries from the cells echoing off the hollow walls, andyou will hear the other inmates as they call out to the officers, some of themwill put up a fight within their cells for hours on end, although this fightinggets you nowhere.

Theiron doors will take your soul, the polished floor that you wear no shoes uponis a chill you will never forget, and the stagnant smell of bleach mixed withurine is one you can’t get out of your nose.

Youwill never be the same again after you walk the halls of shame, with nodignity, no self-respect, as you have been raped of any and all self-esteem.

2011™®©

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