Humor is Your Best Friend 

"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is." 

~ Francis Bacon

From the author...

Let me expound further. In my humble (yes, I can do humble) opinion, humor is a teacher's greatest tool, period. If you can make the learning process fun, there are no limits to what a class can learn. 

For felon prisoners, an opportunity to learn and have some fun is an irresistible combination. I usually make fun of myself and share my joy of learning with my students.

I am aware that many of the readers are teachers. You may have a differing opinion or a different experience, but for me, this has always been the Truth. When students learn how to make fun of their circumstances and situations on the 'inside,' they can keep it in perspective, which allows them to handle prison life better.

Please don't take me wrong. Everyone eventually feels the pressure and stress. The signs become apparent after you witness a couple of felons 'lose it.' It's not funny. Most of the time, I can talk my students down from that ledge. 

But everybody eventually feels the pressure and stress. The signs become apparent after you witness a couple of felons 'lose it.' Not in any way humorous. Most of the time, I can talk my students down from that ledge. But- not always. 

The problem becomes worse in a maddening circular fashion. If a prisoner loses it (goes off) inside the prison, it results in a physical beatdown. Plus, time in solitary and privilege suspension. For example, if a felon loses visitation rights, it increases their pressure and stress. 

Folks want to laugh and have fun, even prisoners, especially prisoners. So- I try to make them laugh at my expense. A small price to pay to open their minds and their hearts to the message I strive to deliver.

The e-dictionary defines alliteration as: "What happens when words that start with the same sound (not just the same letter) are used repeatedly in a phrase or sentence." 

I originally created the following poem in class to demonstrate the power of alliteration. I liked it so much that I included it in this collection. I believe the overuse of alliteration makes the theme more powerful.

*****

The Prison for Injustice

Who planned and proposed 

her very existence, 

The Prison for Injustice?

*

We, the People, advocated for her. 

Out of our fear, or maybe it was panic?

They pledged and promised 

to forever shield and safeguard us 

from those Wicked, scary peoples 

we saw Narcotizing in our streets. 

How would they save us? 

By directly dispatching 

those poor populations,

the full fraction of them.

Delivered and distributed to 

The Prison for Injustice?

*

Leaving them lonely and lost. 

Far removed from our streets 

and from our thoughts.

We bestowed and bequeathed upon her, 

the power to reform and rehabilitate.

Or was it, in her factual reality, 

the power to remove and restructure 

those poor peoples?

Can she recall from yesteryear 

and remember what it was, 

her original charge?

The Prison for Injustice?

*

Today, she rescinds them, 

she revokes them, 

and she reduces their numbers.

Today, the divided portion 

of those poor peoples, 

are without a face or a place.

She assigns to them numbers, 

no names. 

Until they have become 

a copious collective 

of those born to be buried. 

Deeply hidden within her bowels, 

barbed and fenced in.

Who can slacken the Lady now, 

from her rot and decay, 

The Prison for Injustice?

*

Do not look to me. 

I am merely minding 

my own matters

for a meager stay.

Why did we allow her 

to slam shut her doors 

and secure herself so tightly?

Seal the portion of poor peoples, 

within her darkness, 

with so slim of a chance, for light.

The Prison for Injustice?

*

Was she created, 

or ever conceived, 

to become what she is today, 

this Nothingness? 

She has no air to breathe,

no thoughts of redemption, 

no light to see, 

no understanding. 

We, the People,

allowed her making, 

and only 

We, the People, 

can stay her hand.

The Prison for Injustice... 

END