Poetry

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Gloria Killian

Read Gloria's Bio Here

FORGET ME NOT

(Written when she was serving a 32-to-life sentence at the California Institution for Women)

WE ARE INCARCERATED WOMEN:

We are the forgotten, the marginalized, the dispossessed, the abandoned
The disposable refuse of a throw-away society
But the consequences of our repudiation have been overlooked in society’s haste
To hide its social and moral problems behind barbed wire and bars of steel
For we are the mothers of the future generations
The children who were torn from our arms
Will one day grow up to share the lessons they learned in their youth
As they received, so shall they give
Those who were beaten shall inflict violence on others
Those who were sexually abused will prey upon the innocent
The homeless and unwanted will become destroyers
The addicted will spread their sickness throughout the land
But those who received love will give love to others
Those who received help will one day help others
Kindness and compassion will be shared in the measure that it was received
Children who were permitted to bond, heal, and grow with their incarcerated mothers
Grow up to make positive contributions to society
They will not sow the pain and anger of those who could not heal
Women who were helped to rehabilitate themselves
Will teach their children
To recover from their wounds
To be strong
To be kind
To rise above their circumstances
Bitterness or blessing
choice is yours
WE ARE YOUR FUTURE