County Jail, A Writer's Retreat

Thomas W Case

I sit here in
county jail sporting the
orange jumpsuit and I
write more poems and  
memoirs in a week than
I’ve written in a year.
It feels orgasmic when
I’m pounding out the
word and the line.

When you’re homeless and
the temperature is minus ten,
jail isn’t a punishment,
it’s a reward.
I got busted for public intox two days in
a row, and again three
weeks ago.
The state remembered—they
recommended 30 days,
the judge gave me two weeks.

Every time I go to jail
I’m very drunk,
and by morning I’m
coming down hard.
I remind the guards of
my predicament—the danger of
withdrawal seizures.
They say, “We are aware of
your condition, Mr. Case.”
And within a couple of
hours
I’m on Librium,
making detox bearable.

Within a couple of days the
drunken haze dissipated
and the need to create returned.
I got their tiny safe
pen (impossible to stab someone with),
and I went to work.
I looked out my little
window in my cell and I
saw a male bald eagle gliding
lazily over downtown.
I felt as free as he was.

  • Author: Thomas W Case (Pseudonym) (Offline Offline)
  • Published: November 19th, 2023 23:13
  • Comment from author about the poem: Check out my book, Seedy Town Blues Collected Poems on Amazon.
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 24
  • User favorite of this poem: Teddy.15.
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Comments9

  • Doggerel Dave

    Bad case of recidivism there.....
    But while you can hold a pen (however small) tell it like it is.

  • Teddy.15

    Poetry at it's very finest, I can only hope it was in the period of thanksgiving dear Thomas, your poetry truly touches my heart. All the imagery and soberness, which then helped write your best stuff. Hey without all the mess I believe poetry isn't real so carry on always with these magnificent memoires ❤️

    • Thomas W Case

      I agree. Thank you so much, I appreciate it.

    • Goldfinch60

      Strong words Thomas.

      Andy

    • Tom C Dylan

      Such a powerful poem. Really hits home. And the last lines, just wow.

      • Thomas W Case

        Thank you so much

        • Thomas W Case

          Thank you very much. I really appreciate it.

        • aDarkerMind

          shooting from the hip as always Thomas.

          strong stuff !

        • Kinsley Lee

          Thank you for your poem. Male bald eagle means the freedom. Human lives in the big jail named earth. they always dreaming to fly. Have a nice day!

        • Neville



          thank the stars for good old chlordiazepoxide .. a fine write Thomas .. Neville

        • Jon Nakapalau

          Layered and deep!

        • John

          Resonates mate....., thanks again



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