Freedom he prays for,

Justice he cries for,

Strength of the lion he asks for,

He is behind the iron bars,

where he is far away from society,

isolated from the city, frustrated.

Innocent man behind bars, sleeps on the cold concrete, speaks to himself

indiscrete as if he were talking to his wife

his life totally changed, because he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Some critics say he is just another black statistic.

- Damion McCatty

-------

The world beyond my eyes

The vision I possess,

It was manipulated by the realms of this world.

My thoughts were so corroded that I couldn't say a word.

I fell to my knees and begged for mercy,

Not knowing if I were worthy.

There is a field in my mind

That I sit from time to time and plan.

It is now a battle field with pain

Raging war, a no man's land.

My foes are like predators waiting and anticipating my next move.

There is a spirit within me so fragile,

It's like a child without a point to prove.

I pray to my father, for he guides my steps,

If I fall, he lifts me out of the inner-most depths.

So, no matter how struggles are a part of my day,

My father guides me along the way.

He was there for my forefathers from creation,

And now he is here for me throughout all my tribulations.

Now, the vision I possess,

It was once a world beyond my eyes.

My future was so dark, but now bright as the sunrise.

Uplift yourself from captivity and I am sure,

That God will give you miraculous opportunities through an open door.

Praise God!

- Ricardo Cole

-------The freedom that confines

After eons of silence they finally

spoke-the ice she formed around her heart

was melted (if only just a bit) by his

warm insistence. She stood still for a time

and listened to his discourse: a bit of

rational wisdom mixed with emotional

virtue; Aristotle would have been proud.

He recalled hearing someone say that she

said she wanted her freedom, which he would

have limited.

He proved her right by holding

her captive with his council; a mixture

of chastisement and concern, analysing

in her face the swelling of pride, that brings

destruction, subsiding.

Somehow something

inside him tells him that her distress is

the price of freedom. It is a freedom

that confines her to a suppressed sorrow

she hides in the obvious hurt in her face.

- Nicholas Alexander

I'm dreaming of a sunset

I'm dreaming of a sunset just walking on the sand

I'm dreaming of a sunset

A masterpiece painted by God's hand

I'm dreaming of a sunset somewhere on the beach

Where the corruptions of life are yet to reach

Escape from the concrete and asphalt

And inhale the fresh breeze and salt

I'm dreaming of a sunset on an evening all alone

Where nature shines in her glory and her beauty is shown

With the sound of the waves breaking on the shore

Bring seaweeds and messages from the ocean floor

I'm dreaming of a sunset

The cool breeze blowing through the air

And all of life's troubles are lost out there somewhere

The sun rests on the water so still and soft

Sometimes it's all I dream of.

- Seon Lewis