The previous section included pieces that addressed life before coming to prison. Take a moment to reflect on what you just read and the emotions you are feeling. If you’d like to, write down your reaction to these pieces in this form: https://forms.gle/aad4w3PBToKoy1td6

Now let’s see what life is like “behind the walls.”

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When reading this piece, imagine yourself getting paraded off the bus and into the correctional facility.

WHAT!? Patois

J.S. Copeman

How We Be •••
straight off the bus
click clack ratchet chicks
a-murderin’ verbs
why the nerve
to be always askin’
“Hey, you ain’t got this or that?”
was which —
ain’t really a question
You know what I’m sayin’?
which —
technically is, just a really dumb one.
How We Be •••
with no sense
of correct pre-tense
is gettin’ roughed-up
then cuffed-up
while statin, ‘
“Hey, I ain’t done nuthin’!
are which —
ain’t really a defense
or, a really bad one.
Am which —
could also be both.

How We Be •••
once a year Ramadan fasted
tattoo’d inked up
while in the joint typecasted; gray and black masters
lockin’ blocks
down !
were which —
ain’t really a direction
to be going.
How We Be •••
ah, chillin’ chillin’
cuz that’s all they got for us really–nuthin’–going
when you’ re just a dumbass
hollow-point wearin’
villian, spillin’
who keeps askin’
How You Be?
How I Be?
Whatever Bro,
gotta go
oh no, as they say,

blase splee