Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Welcome to About Time

About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

Your browser window currently does not have enough height, or is zoomed in too far to view our website content correctly. Once the window reaches the minimum required height or zoom percentage, the content will display automatically.

Alternatively, you can learn more via the links below.

Donations via GiveNow

Email

Instagram

LinkedIn

ISSUE NO. 19

AUGUST 2024

Donate Here

Poetry

Trapped Away

By

CJ

CJ writes from a prison in QLD.

Will Francis via Unsplash

Font Size
Font Size
Line Height
Line Height
Dyslexia Friendly
Black & White
Hide Images
Night Mode

Dear Readers,

I’ve just finished reading the newspaper and thought I would share a little song I wrote about being locked up, coming to prison and not being able to be around my loved ones when I want to be – and only seeing them at visits and speaking with them on the phone. I’ve done almost 10 years in prison and I’m totally done with it now and can’t wait to be out away from this place.

Trapped Away

By CJ

Life is the biggest mission always

Wishing and daily praying

Hoping something will start falling

Yet everyday you’re always waiting for that one chance and that

One opportunity in your life for

Someone to come and sweep you up

and start walking by your side.

I have a motive and they might even tend

To say stop acting like a kid and put all that shit away

Because when the sun goes down and

The moon starts rising

You start thinking, reminiscing,

How many days you already wasted in your life

And the bad decisions get you nowhere

And the systems and the prisons

Are more corrupt than believing in the Jacksons.

Who am I to judge another?

I was built to be a Leader –

I write rhythms to entertain y’all and

perform it like a master

With the lyrics flowing from my brains

Because my life is as big as a hurricane

Because everything I touch in life turns up looking rough

Screws up in a million pieces

But I’m never giving up with my life,

Rip it apart, with a heart, built like a rock

I knock down more

Beats than the actor in Hancock.

Mr Macho Man assaulting you with a verbal attack and

When you hear this you’ll be craving for some more.

This is someone’s real life story, so hold the applause.

I feel lost and I’m searching for the strength to walk out that door and

Find freedom through my eyes yeah find freedom yeah yo

Have you ever been trapped

Away from your family and friends

And lost in a world of hate and you think it’ll never end,

Finding out you’re lonely and losing the ones you love.

I have and I can’t explain the pain that it’s caused me,

Always rushing through my veins.

I had the urge and intentions to kill and

spill the blood of the guilty

Ones that’s messing me up inside but

I still held my head up high upon the skies,

wiped my eyes and washed away all those lies.

I was told I was freezing from the blistering cold.

I hold on like a poker game, Yo it’s time to fold

Yo am I phased, no wait for the better days

so I can raise on my two feet and be on my way

To a better future, forgetting my past,

See how long it last before I’m put back on my ass again and

Yo I love yous all, I’m just over this life

But I’m coming back and be living a better life again

My life, my story, I shout.

Dear Readers,

I’ve just finished reading the newspaper and thought I would share a little song I wrote about being locked up, coming to prison and not being able to be around my loved ones when I want to be – and only seeing them at visits and speaking with them on the phone. I’ve done almost 10 years in prison and I’m totally done with it now and can’t wait to be out away from this place.

Trapped Away

By CJ

Life is the biggest mission always

Wishing and daily praying

Hoping something will start falling

Yet everyday you’re always waiting for that one chance and that

One opportunity in your life for

Someone to come and sweep you up

and start walking by your side.

I have a motive and they might even tend

To say stop acting like a kid and put all that shit away

Because when the sun goes down and

The moon starts rising

You start thinking, reminiscing,

How many days you already wasted in your life

And the bad decisions get you nowhere

And the systems and the prisons

Are more corrupt than believing in the Jacksons.

Who am I to judge another?

I was built to be a Leader –

I write rhythms to entertain y’all and

perform it like a master

With the lyrics flowing from my brains

Because my life is as big as a hurricane

Because everything I touch in life turns up looking rough

Screws up in a million pieces

But I’m never giving up with my life,

Rip it apart, with a heart, built like a rock

I knock down more

Beats than the actor in Hancock.

Mr Macho Man assaulting you with a verbal attack and

When you hear this you’ll be craving for some more.

This is someone’s real life story, so hold the applause.

I feel lost and I’m searching for the strength to walk out that door and

Find freedom through my eyes yeah find freedom yeah yo

Have you ever been trapped

Away from your family and friends

And lost in a world of hate and you think it’ll never end,

Finding out you’re lonely and losing the ones you love.

I have and I can’t explain the pain that it’s caused me,

Always rushing through my veins.

I had the urge and intentions to kill and

spill the blood of the guilty

Ones that’s messing me up inside but

I still held my head up high upon the skies,

wiped my eyes and washed away all those lies.

I was told I was freezing from the blistering cold.

I hold on like a poker game, Yo it’s time to fold

Yo am I phased, no wait for the better days

so I can raise on my two feet and be on my way

To a better future, forgetting my past,

See how long it last before I’m put back on my ass again and

Yo I love yous all, I’m just over this life

But I’m coming back and be living a better life again

My life, my story, I shout.

Leave a Comment

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
0 Comments
Author Name
Comment Time

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere. uis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Edward’s Recipes

By Edward

A delicious recipe from inside.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 19

2 MIN READ

Sound Advice

By A.S.P.

Life is only short my son, with so many paths to take, life is an uphill struggle, with every step you make. That’s why you must treasure life, with every second of the day, because you may never know, when it’s your turn to go away.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 19

2 MIN READ

For Theo

By Alexandra

I dream, and think, and feel from the opposite side of the city, in a cell of grey and steel, about our home – peaceful and pretty.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 19

1 MIN READ

Less

By John

The outside on the inside, steals passion for fun. When arrows come from far and wide, facing the new shiny sun, with dignity. There are ribbons in the fire, and lives still painfully on hold. Beneath the folds of desire, the barred windows still remain cold indefinitely.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 19

1 MIN READ

Get the full paper in print each month.

6-Month Subscription:

Physical copy of About Time delivered to your home or organisation each month for six months. Paid upfront.

Subscribe for $70

12-Month Subscription:

Physical copy of About Time delivered to your home or organisation each month for twelve months. Paid upfront.

Subscribe for $125

Newsletter

Be the first to learn about our monthly stories, plus new initiatives and live events

You've successfully registered!
Something went wrong when we tried to register your details. Please try again.

Support Australia's First National Prison Newspaper

A place for news and education, expression and hope

Help keep the momentum going. All donations will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.

All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. If you would like to pay directly into our bank account to avoid the processing fee, please contact donate@abouttime.org.au. ABN 67 667 331 106.

It's
About Time.

A place for news and education, expression and hope.

Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.

Donate Here

Newsletter

Be the first to learn about our monthly stories, plus new initiatives and live events

You've successfully registered!
Something went wrong when we tried to register your details. Please try again.